The Buffalo Bills addressed the defensive line on Thursday, announcing the signing of two veterans. The Bills needed to recruit defensive players after losing key starters before free agency to open up cap space.
Fortunately, the Bills were able to retain DaQuan Jones for the 2024 season. On Thursday morning, they signed defensive tackle DeShawn Williams. When another player was added to the team on Thursday morning, the trenches were further built.
The Bills announced that they had signed Austin Johnson, the Tennessee Titans’ 2016 second-round pick, to a one-year contract. According to the Buffalo Bills website, Johnson can play numerous defensive line positions. Bills general manager Brandon Beane stated that the team is pleased for Johnson to rejoin with his former Penn State teammate, Jones.
The former second-round choice has eight career sacks and has played both on the interior and outside of the defensive line. General manager Brandon Beane believes Johnson has the potential to have a breakout season comparable to Jones’ in his first year in Buffalo.
“I think even DaQuan, you’ve seen in our systemprove his pass rush, and we do think Austin can kind of follow that same trajectory,” Beane went on to say. “I brought him in for a visit. Great young man. You know, he talked about the necessity of a winning culture and a winning squad, and DaQuan was clearly selling our scenario.”