Broncos Prospect Profile: Dion Dawkins, OT, Temple

Throughout the offseason, we’ll be profiling players who may end up in Denver when all is said and done with the 2017 NFL Draft. The Broncos clearly have plenty of holes to fill before they get back to Super-Bowl form and we’ll be examining a long list of players they may choose to help the franchise do just that.

The offensive line is often overlooked by the casual football fan but can be the difference between a deep playoff run and drafting early. Denver is obviously lacking in this department and could very well use one of their first few picks to address said issue.

Offensive tackle Dion Dawkins, a 6-foot-5, 318-pound senior out of Temple, started 41 of the 44 games during his four-year tenure at the university and is ready to take his talents to the next level. Dawkins attended Hardgrave Military Academy after high school before transferring to Temple as a two-star offensive lineman. Earning All-American Athletic Conference honors his junior and senior season and First-Team accolades the latter season will do nothing but benefit the standout tackle.

Dawkins might not be the sexy pick, but he could be exactly what Denver needs.

Strengths

At just 23-years old, Dawkins is sporting a massive frame while still being able to show athleticism on the field; he engulfs defenders at the line. It is not only his size that makes the former Owl a projected second-round pick, it is also his quickness. Dawkins can leap from a three-point stance and attack the defender to drive them away from the ball and has the ability to shift in motion.

Dawkins played three years at the left tackle position and has experience in multiple schemes and, barring injuries, could very well be a day-one starter.

Weaknesses

When inside the scuffle of the line during each play, Dawkins has the tendency to grab players due to his hands being too wide at the point of attack, which could lead to unnecessary flags.

His on-the-field issues can be fixed with proper training but it is his off the field discretions that could hinder the young star. Dawkins and fellow Owl teammate Haason Reddick (who is also in this year’s draft) were arrested in 2015 outside of a Philadelphia nightclub after a fight with a fellow Temple student. The duo avoided trial by attending Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition.

How he fits in Denver

Dawkins only allowed two sacks and five hurries while playing in a pro-style offense at Temple, something Denver cannot say after allowing 40 sacks during the 2016 campaign. Dawkins is a smart, young lineman with explosive talent and the experience needed to make an immediate impact in today’s NFL as a true left tackle, a position Denver is sorely lacking on.