The Buffalo Bills bolstered the back end of their roster on Friday, bringing in three veteran players at positions of need. The team signed wide receiver Chase Claypool, defensive end Dawuane Smoot, and linebacker Deion Jones to one-year contracts. Terms of the deals were not immediately available.
Jones, 29, was rumored to have signed yesterday. We covered him at the time the rumor became known, but the team has made his signing official. At best, Jones is a capable veteran with plenty of starting experience whose athletic profile and proficiency in pass coverage make him a good fit for the team in a pinch. At worst, Jones is a veteran presence on his fourth team in as many seasons looking to hold on to the back end of an NFL roster — or stay with a team as a veteran member of a practice squad.
Smoot, 29, has been with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the duration of his career. The team selected him in the third round, No. 68 overall, of the 2017 NFL Draft. He has 23.5 sacks, 27 tackles for loss, and 64 quarterback hits in 99 career games, 17 of which were starts. He fits the mold of the Shaq Lawson role: He’s not a flashy player, but he is a solid veteran depth piece who can be trusted to hold the edge and pressure the quarterback for 15-20 snaps per game.
Claypool, 25, is a former second-round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers, taken No. 49 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft. He fits the physical mold of the traditional, big-bodied “X” receiver at 6’4” and nearly 240 pounds. However, his career has been marred by maddening inconsistency both in effort and effectiveness. After a promising rookie season where he caught 62 passes for 873 yards and nine touchdowns, Claypool has bounced around a bit. He was traded by the Steelers to the Chicago Bears in 2022, and he played in only 10 games with the Bears before he was dealt to the Miami Dolphins in a draft-pick swap.
While contract details have not been released, it’s safe to assume that the one-year deals are all at or around the veteran’s minimum, potentially with incentives built in for playing time and performance. Once contract details become available, we will update accordingly.
