Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
#Bills veterans join in on Media Day session (video):
The 2024 crop of Buffalo Bills already did their media day duties back during rookie minicamp.
Now the vets played their part.
Media day includes all those photos, videos, and more that players are part of each season during games on the big screen and on social media.
Check out the preview of those below:
Picture day never disappoints. 😎#GoBills | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/Y0hWMi9C43
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) June 11, 2024
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Why PFF thinks DaQuan Jones in a ‘bounce-back candidate’ for the #Bills:
Pro Football Focus named DaQuan Jones the Buffalo Bills’ candidate to be a “bounce-back player” in 2024… which is curious to say the least.
However, the full context is needed.
The Bills re-signed Jones this offseason based on his performances. His… good performances. The 32-year-old was limited to just seven games last season due to a pectoral injury which cost him most of the year.
And that’s it. PFF gave Jones positive grades for his work in Buffalo in 2023. His efforts included 2.5 sacks and 16 tackles.
It’s all about Jones staying healthy following injury, according to PFF.
Their full breakdown can be found below:
Jones was terrific in 2023, with his 82.9 overall grade slotting 12th among defensive tackles to play 200 or more snaps. The issue, though, was that Jones tore his pec, preventing him from exceeding that playing time.
A healthy Jones could showcase his long-term talent, truly creating a name for himself amid a Buffalo defensive line with no shortage of skill.
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Contract details for #Bills DT DaQuan Jones:
The Buffalo Bills re-signed defensive tackle DaQuan Jones to a two-year deal early on in 2024 free agency.
Jones, 32, appeared in 23 games for Buffalo over the past two years. He’s started all of them. Last season, he was held to seven games played including two postseason outings.
Jones originally left the Carolina Panthers during the 2022 offseason and signed in Buffalo.
At the time of reporting, Jones’ new contract was said to be worth $16 million total with $10.5M fully guaranteed. In addition, NFL Network noted some incentives put in place making the deal worth up to $18M max.
Upon the revealing of the finer details, here’s some more information on the Jones deal.
Jones earned a $5 million signing bonus as part of his $10.5M in guarantees. Another $2.5M of that comes in 2024 with the rest of Jones’ guarantees being his 2024 salary.
Because of that layout, Jones will certainly be in Buffalo this upcoming season but there is an out in the second year.
Now for the all-important salary cap hits: Jones will have a $6.3M hit in 2024 and the following year it’s at $9M. The dead-cap hits in those two seasons are $10.5M and $6M, respectively.
That first year locks Jones into a roster spot in 2024. In 2025, Buffalo can save $3M against the salary cap if Jones is cut, but there are two void years on his deal in 2026 and 2027 which will help further spread out his salary cap hit… those two, respectively, are $2.5M and $1.25M, both considered minimal.
Bills Wire will continue to bring all roster updates throughout the 2024 offseason.
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After signing a two-year deal to come back to the Buffalo Bills, defensive tackle DaQuan Jones spoke to the media about why he’s returning.
Buffalo Bills defensive tackle DaQuan Jones had the chance to leave in free-agency, especially with Buffalo making significant cuts to get under the salary cap for the 2024 NFL league year. However, Jones decided to come back to the Bills by signing a two-year deal with a maximum value of $18 million.
Jones, 32, came to Buffalo two seasons ago during free agency and since then, he has been one of the more disruptive forces along the Bills’ defensive line. After signing his deal to come back to Buffalo, Jones spoke to the media on why he came back to play for the Bills despite probably being able to get more money by signing elsewhere.
In part, Jones said that one of the reasons for him returning was because of how “comfortable” he felt playing in head coach Sean McDermott’s defensive system that has seen him have some of his best seasons in his career.
After spending seven seasons with the Tennessee Titans after being drafted with a fourth-round pick in the 2014 draft and one season with the Carolina Panthers, Jones feels that he is hitting his stride despite now being in his 30’s.
Jones said to the media that he feels that he is “peaking” physically and mentally and that he sees things finally “clicking” for him. While Jones played just seven games last season due to a pectoral injury, the Bills are happy that Jones is coming back to play for the Bills.
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Projecting market value for #Bills pending free agents:
The Buffalo Bills have several important players who are on the cusp of leaving via free agency. General manager Brandon Beane has some difficult decisions to make, as he needs to balance a challenging salary cap situation. At this time, Spotrac highlights the Bills are still $41 million over the cap.
The Bills still have some time to ink these players to extensions. However, several of these players are on the verge of a big payday.
The legal tampering period begins on March 11. Once this date hits, it’s a good chance that these players will be finding new homes for the 2024 season.
Here is a look at the projected market value for the Bills top pending free agents based off Spotrac’s projections:
Taking a look at one pending free agent for the Colts from each AFC team.
With free agency right around the corner, the Indianapolis Colts have the chance to make some key additions to a roster that already has some promise.
Working with some of the most salary-cap space in the NFL this offseason, general manager Chris Ballard and the front office can continue to add pieces to the defensive side of the ball while improving the supporting cast for quarterback Anthony Richardson.
Re-signing some of their own players like Michael Pittman Jr., Grover Stewart and Kenny Moore II will be key. But they also could look around the conference to bring in some outside talent.
We know Ballard isn’t one to make huge splashes in free agency, but they are still going to be an active team even if it means simply adding depth.
After taking a look at potential NFC targets, here’s a look at one pending free agent from each AFC team that should interest the Colts:
Taking a look at some DT targets for Indy in free agency.
Free agency for the interior of the defensive line for the Indianapolis Colts all comes down to what Chris Ballard does with Grover Stewart.
They are set with DeForest Buckner at the three-tech spot for at least one more season but if Stewart isn’t re-signed, there is a glaring hole in that part of the roster.
Even if Stewart is brought back for the 2024 season, Ballard also has to consider depth beyond him because of how far the rush defense fell when Stewart was out of the lineup in the 2023 season because of his six-game suspension.
Here are five defensive tackles that the Colts should target as replacement options for Stewart if he walks and/or quality depth option to have in the rotation behind him:
PFF: #Bills’ DaQuan Jones is 90th best pending free agent in NFL:
Pro Football Focus has had a lot to say about DaQuan Jones as of late.
The football analytic outlets believes the Buffalo Bills should do whatever it takes to re-sign the defensive tackle. He was named as the Bills’ one “must re-sign player” heading into the 2024 offseason.
But Buffalo’s salary cap situation ahead the spring isn’t looking good. Currently the team is more than $40 million over the cap. But perhaps by PFF’s own account, the Bills might be able to get a deal on him if he does stick around.
In ranking their top-200 pending free agents, Jones slides into the No. 90 overall spot. Jones is only listed as the Bills’ third-best upcoming free agent per PFF, behind both receiver Gabe Davis (63) and defensive end Leonard Floyd (49).
It remains to be seen what type of deal Jones could nab from the Bills or elsewhere. PFF projects $6 million per year.
Here’s how Jones hitting free agency is broken down by PFF:
Jones finished 2023 with 19 quarterback pressures (including 2.5 sacks) on just 135 pass rush snaps. He had been as durable as any veteran in the league prior to 2023, logging more than 600 snaps in four straight seasons with three different teams. Jones can win as a rusher lined up anywhere from a zero technique to a 4i, with good use of his hands to swat away blockers. But he’s a bit stiff in the hips and gets home with dogged pursuit north to south. He was a perfect fit on a Bills defensive line that has a long list of pass-rushers who all command attention and can chase quarterbacks into each other’s laps.
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5 pending free agents the #Bills should consider re-signing in 2024:
The Buffalo Bills have plenty of free agents slated to hit the open market.
The Bills have time to still sign players to extensions, but it’s never so cut-and-dry. According to Over The Cap, Buffalo is estimated to be more than $40 million over the 2024 NFL salary cap.
Moves must be made to get there and general manager Brandon Beane will earn his salary with the decisions ahead.
But Beane’s work is not the type of operation that’s never been completed before. Teams and players can restructure contracts, move dollars and cents around, and create cap space.
Once that’s done, Beane will then consider who to bring in and who to re-sign. Here are five pending free agents the Bills should take a look into re-signing this offseason:
PFF says #Bills should re-sign DaQuan Jones:
The Buffalo Bills have plenty of free agents
Their salary cap situation ahead of 2024 isn’t looking good, either. Currently the team is more than $40 million over the cap.
General manager Brandon Beane has his work cut out for him. But if he finds the space, Pro Football Focus has picked one player Buffalo should re-sign among their pending free agents: Defensive tackle DaQuan Jones.
Jones put up 2.5 sacks in 2023 but had a pectoral injury disrupt things. The start to his year was much better, but even so, PFF thinks bringing the 32-year-old back for another season would make sense.
Here is PFF’s breakdown on Jones re-signing in Buffalo:
The Bills got a lot out of rotational defensive linemen this year, with a handful of guys stepping up at critical points throughout the season, but the lack of interior defensive line depth alongside Ed Oliver makes Jones’ return all the more important
Edge defenders Leonard Floyd and A.J. Epenesa also stepped up in 2023 in the absence of Von Miller, and Floyd, in particular, performed well on his one-year flier. But the lack of interior defender depth led to late-season additions like Linval Joseph playing meaningful snaps for Buffalo. Before getting hurt, Jones had the highest pressure rate among all interior defenders through Week 4 (20.8%).
