Despite staying up late to finalize his 2024 work schedule, DaQuan Jones has no intention of leaving Buffalo. According to his agency (Instagram link), the seasoned defensive tackle will recommit to the Bills for a two-year contract.
Under a contract worth a total of $16 million, the 11-year-old D-lineman will receive a guaranteed $10.5 million from the Bills. After undergoing surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle late in the season, Jones was playing well until the setback in October derailed his second Buffalo slate.
Jones, a top-notch run-stuffing DT, will get about the same amount of guarantees as the bills in 2022. Two years ago, they guaranteed $10.6 million to the former starter for the Titans. Jones is now expected to play at age 32, but Buffalo made enough money during his two-year stint to reinvest.
Jones was ranked third among DTs by Pro Football Focus before going injured in Week 5—a pretty awful game for the Bills, who also lost Matt Milano for the season in London. In 2022, he came in 20th place among DTs.
The 320-pound defender returned in time for the team’s Week 17 game and the playoffs, despite having a torn pec. Though the Bills had virtually nothing at D-Tackle as they entered free agency, that may have gone wrong within the organization.
Jones has lined up as a first-stringer 133 times in Tennessee, Carolina, and Buffalo. In 2022, he started 16 games for the Bills. The Bills need more than the one non-Ed Oliver answer they currently have at DT.
For the 2024 campaign, Tim Settle, Jordan Phillips, and Poona Ford are unsigned. Longtime mainstays Tre’Davious White, Mitch Morse, and Jordan Poyer will be leaving the Bills, but they will retain a 30-something regular in the lineup.
With defensive tackle DaQuan Jones’ re-signing, a significant component of the Buffalo Bills defense has been restored.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Bills agreed to terms on a two-year contract worth $16 million, keeping their starting nose tackle.
Over the last two seasons, Jones, 32, has participated in and started 23 games for the Bills. Last season, he played in just seven games (plus the two playoff games) because of a torn pectoral muscle injury he sustained in the Week 5 loss to Jacksonville. Before he got hurt, the season was off to a tremendous start for him. Jones was able to play in the final two games of the regular season.
With the defensive line situation unclear until the NFL’s free agency period begins, the Bills’ decision to retain Jones is crucial. Ed Oliver was the sole defensive tackle signed by the Bills until 2024. Because of this, Jones was maybe the most significant unsigned free agent on the Bills’ roster. Officially, the free-agency signing window opens on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
According to the NFL Network, Jones’ contract has a $10.5 million guaranteed component and a potential $18 million value.
In the end, Jones only participated in 16% of the defensive plays during the Bills’ previous regular season. Despite missing the previous ten games, he returned to a strong workload since the Bills sorely needed him in the latter stages of the season. For the two playoff games, Jones played 58% of the time.
Jones, a 320-pound 6-foot-4 line-clogging player, is valuable to the Bills since Oliver is undersized and a skilled offensive lineman.
Jones was active for the whole 2022 season for the Bills.
Over his career, Jones has made 139 starts and participated in 139 games. After being selected in the fourth round of the draft, he began his career with the Tennessee Titans, starting seven games. He participated in Carolina’s 2021 season.
