Buffalo sent picks No. 75, No. 149 and No. 156 to Atlanta to…
Buffalo sent picks No. 75, No. 149 and No. 156 to Atlanta to move up to No. 63 for offensive tackle Dion Dawkins. The Falcons selected Duke Riley, Damontae Kazee and Brian Hill, receiving useful contributions from Kazee and rotational work from the others. Dawkins became a long-term Bills starter, team leader and five-time Pro Bowler, making him the clear best player produced by the exchange.
Atlanta Falcons Received
- pick 2017 3rd round pick (75th overall, Duke Riley)
- pick 2017 5th round pick (149th overall, Damontae Kazee )
- pick 2017 5th round pick (156th overall, Brian Hill)
Buffalo Bills Received
- pick 2017 2nd round pick (63rd overall, Dion Dawkins)
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Buffalo packaged picks No. 75, No. 149 and No. 156 to acquire No. 63 from Atlanta in the 2017 draft. The Bills selected Temple offensive lineman Dion Dawkins. Atlanta used its three selections on linebacker Duke Riley, defensive back Damontae Kazee and running back Brian Hill. The Falcons chose volume; the Bills chose a specific offensive tackle.
Why Buffalo Won
Dawkins became the defining asset. He quickly established himself as a starter and developed into the long-term left tackle protecting Josh Allen. By 2025 he had started well over 130 games and earned five consecutive Pro Bowl selections. Finding that level of durability and performance in the second round is a major roster victory, especially at a premium position. Buffalo paid three selections, but it secured a player who became an organizational cornerstone.
How Atlanta's Return Held Up
The Falcons did not come away empty. Kazee was a legitimate success, becoming a starter and tying for the NFL lead with seven interceptions in 2018. Hill contributed as a reserve running back, and Riley played before Atlanta later moved him. Three players with some NFL utility is a reasonable outcome from a trade-down. The problem is that none matched Dawkins' combination of tenure, positional value and honors. Quantity cannot overcome the quality gap in this case.
Final Verdict
Buffalo earns an A and Atlanta a B-. The Falcons executed a sensible trade-down and found one particularly useful defender in Kazee, so their side was productive. Dawkins became a franchise-caliber left tackle and multi-time Pro Bowler, making the Bills' aggressive move up one of the better uses of a second-round pick from that draft. Buffalo Bills Win.