The Buffalo Bills defense started out the 2023 season hot, with defensive tackles Ed Oliver and DaQuan Jones playing at All-Pro levels, and Matt Milano was on a tear as well. A month into the season, the Bills lost Milano and Jones, and the Buffalo defense was suddenly struggling to find their footing. At this point in his career, Milano is no longer a secret. The league and fans are well aware of who he is and what he means to the Buffalo Bills.
DaQuan Jones is a different story though. Bills Mafia understands his importance to the team, but not many outside the organization get it. According to a recent article from Matt Holder of Bleacher Report, he calls Jones the Bills best-kept secret, stating, "He's earned grades of 72.6 and 86.0 from Pro Football Focus since signing as a free agent two years ago."
He goes on to comment that one reason Jones made this list was due to his pec injury a season ago, which took him out of the majority of the 2023 season. I firmly believe that had Jones not suffered the injury, he would have continued his stellar performance throughout the year and earned All-Pro honors.
What does DaQuan Jones mean to the Buffalo Bills?
Jones's importance to the Bills' defense cannot be overstated. He is the glue of their defensive line and a big reason the linebackers and edge defenders can make plays and play sideline to sideline. He plays the Bills. Even when he returned late in the year, he wasn't the same at the start of the regular season. The Bills were able to re-sign him this offseason to a two-year, $16 million deal, locking up the Bills' interior defensive line for the next two seasons.
The tandem of Oliver and Jones forms one of the best interiors in the NFL and should be a big reason the defense is once again one of the top units this coming season. Jones has missed games due to injuries the last two seasons, so that will be something to watch, but if they can both stay healthy, look for the Bills defensive front to be a dominant force in 2024.