By adding three seasoned players to needy spots on Friday, the Buffalo Bills strengthened the back end of their roster. The team inked one-year contracts with defensive end Dawuane Smoot, linebacker Deion Jones, and wide receiver Chase Claypool. The agreements’ terms were not immediately clear.
There were rumors that Jones, 29, signed yesterday. The team has officially announced that he has signed, but we already reported on him when the rumors first surfaced. Jones is, at best, a decent veteran with a ton of starting experience, and his athletic profile and skill at pass coverage make him a useful member of the squad when things get tight. In the worst case scenario, Jones is a seasoned player trying to hang on to his fourth team in as many seasons.
Smoot, 29, has spent his whole professional career with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was chosen by the team in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, with the 68th overall pick. In 99 career games, 17 of which were starts, he has amassed 23.5 sacks, 27 tackles for loss, and 64 quarterback hits. He is the prototypical Shaq Lawson player—not a showy player, but a reliable experienced depth option who can be counted on to maintain pressure on the quarterback for fifteen to twenty minutes each game.
In the 2020 NFL Draft, Claypool, 25, was selected No. 49 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers, their previous second-round selection. Standing at 6’4″ and about 240 pounds, he physically fits the mold of the typical, big-bodied “X” receiver. Still, his career has been tainted by very inconsistent work and efficacy. Following a stellar rookie campaign in which he hauled in 62 passes for 873 yards and nine scores, Claypool has had some inconsistent play. In 2022, the Steelers traded him to the Chicago Bears, where he appeared in just ten games before being dealt in exchange for a draft pick to the Miami Dolphins.
Although the terms of the one-year contracts are unknown, it is reasonable to presume that they are all at or near the veteran’s minimum, possibly with incentives for performance and playing time. We will update as soon as contract details are made available.
