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Conventional wisdom tells us that a quarterback can't do much good when he's consistently on his back.
Naturally, five-time NFL MVP finalist Josh Allen works best when adequately protected from opposing pass rushers.
Look no further for the reason as to why the Buffalo Bills spend nearly $40 million per year on starting offensive tackles Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown.
Although it's about 13 percent of the entire team's salary cap, it's been money well spent.
Not only has the Bills' offense thrived when Dawkins and Brown have been at the top of their games, the two hog mollies have garnered league-wide attention for their importance to Buffalo's success.
Naming the "NFL's Five Best Tackle Duos for 2026," Sports Illustrated placed the Bills' bookend combination at No.
5 overall.
The San Francisco 49ers (Trent Williams and Colton McKivitz) topped the rankings.
The No.
2 Denver Broncos (Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey) were the only AFC team higher than the Bills.
"Buffalos bookend tackles dont get enough credit for how successful this offense has been for half a decade.
Yes, Josh Allen can create for himself away from the pocket, but he also has the benefit of knowing he has extra time to extend plays because Dawkins and Brown are consistently winning their matchups," said SI national writer Gilberto Manzano.
In 2024, Allen was sacked the least of any quarterback in the NFL.
Although he took a higher number of sacks in 2025, the dual threat still found himself with enough time to create on the large majority of his drop backs.
In addition to protecting Allen, Dawkins and Brown have proven to be more than effective on their run blocking assignments with the Bills leading the league in rushing this past season.
"The Bills are also one of the better rushing teams in the league because of the lanes these tackles provide for James Cook, last years rushing champion," said Manzano.
Draft, develop, re-sign blueprint It's worth mentioning that both Dawkins and Brown are both homegrown talents and Day 2 draft picks by the Bills.
Buffalo selected Dawkins at No.
63 overall in 2017.
Four years later, the Bills used the No.
93 overall pick on Brown.
Both players earned starting roles as rookies and have never really looked back.
Dawkins, who has five Pro Bowls to his credit, enters the middle season of a three-year contract extension worth $60 million.
Brown, who has made 69 career starts at right tackle, is in Year 2 of a four-year, $72 million deal that followed his rookie contract.
NFL's Five Best Tackle Duos for 2026 5.
Buffalo Bills: Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown 4.
Philadelphia Eagles: Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson 3.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke 2.
Denver Broncos: Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey 1.
San Francisco 49ers: Trent Williams and Colton McKivitz Ralph, a former college football conference administrator, brings 20+ years of media experience to Buffalo Bills ON SI.
Prior to focusing on the Bills, he spent two years covering the New York Jets.
Ventre initially joined the ON SI family in 2021, providing NCAA Football Championship Subdivision for NFL Draft Bible on FanNation.
Ventre remains as an official voter for the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and the annual legacy awards.
The Fordham University graduate is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.