Denver Broncos could look to sleeper left tackle prospect Dion Dawkins

The list of options for the Denver Broncos at left tackle in the 2017 NFL Draft is thin as it is, but perhaps Dion Dawkins could be a sleeper…

The options for the Denver Broncos at the left tackle position seem to be too thin for John Elway and company to be waiting this long to find someone, but the draft has some guys that can step in and start right away as rookies. One such player that is kind of flying under the radar is Temple’s Dion Dawkins, who started at left tackle the last three full seasons and part of his true freshman year.

Dawkins became a starting left tackle at Temple as a true freshman, and also helped out at right tackle before injuring his foot. He came back in 2014 to start at left tackle again, and never looked back.

Considered a potential transition player to guard at the next level, I’m sitting here trying to figure out why no one is really talking about Dawkins as a left tackle.

Watching Dawkins play a few games, it’s easy to see that his athletic traits and physical gifts he put on display at the Senior Bowl and the Scouting Combine translate to the field. This guy is the type of ‘dancing bear’ you look for at left tackle, and while he can be sloppy at times (as you will see in the Penn State game tape) he has the foot quickness to mirror rushers, the arm length to keep pass rushers at bay, and the nastiness/toughness to excel in a power blocking scheme.

I couldn’t help but think the Temple offense looked a lot like a modern day pro style offense as well, and not having dissected Temple’s offense to this point (I’ve spent plenty of time watching Haason Reddick and the defense) I was taken aback by how much it looked like the Broncos’ offense looked some of last year and even dating back to the Adam Gase/Mike McCoy days.

Here’s a little of what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had to say about Dawkins…

"Quality tackle who operates with good balance and solid technique. Shows some good initial quickness and a smooth kick-slide out of his stance, but might be better in short areas as a guard rather than in open space as a tackle. He’s athletic enough to operate in space, but power appears to be his calling card.– Lance Zierlein, NFL.com Draft expert"

When I watch Dawkins play, he looks like he will transition to the NFL pretty quickly. He has excellent quickness and power, long arms, and a lot of starting experience in what appears to be very much a pro style offense.

There are some inconsistencies in his game of course that need work, and whether or not the Broncos would see him as a true left tackle remains to be seen. I could definitely see him being an Orlando Franklin type of player worst case scenario, someone who can start at both right tackle and guard and excel in both areas.

If the Broncos feel like his abilities at left tackle translate to the pro game — and I see no evidence to the contrary — he could be a nice sleeper pickup if they trade down in the first or possibly if they can snag him in the second round.