The regular recipient of the awards in the coming season is determined by a panel consisting of six former strikers All-PRO: Lecharles Bentley, Jason Kelce, Shaun O’Hara, Orlando Pace, Will Shields and Andrew Whitworth.
And now that it is in the game, Dawkins is next to try to go and win it.
Despite still looking for its first All-PRO selection, this 31-year-old has lived to reach the honor of the arm in the coming years. He has never missed more than one game in any of his eight seasons and is now cycling for four pro bows in a row.
Regardless of whether he won the award he helped to make possible, though, Dawkins’ name will – at least – be forever related to it.
“This protector of the year finally gives the big boys in front of the respect we deserve,” he said, according to NFL’s release regarding the award. “I have knocked on doors and spear this movement because offensive lines are the true foundation of each team.