Latest offseason addition hints at Bills’ possible concern for Matt Milano

The Buffalo Bills are getting closer to offseason workouts and minicamps and while most of the signings and draft picks are made, this is not stopping the front office from continuing to try to find ways to improve the roster. One of the focuses at this point of the offseason is trying to add more depth to the roster and create as much competition as possible heading into the summer months and approaching the 2024 season.

One of those signings was made on Thursday when the Bills reportedly agreed to terms with veteran linebacker Deion Jones, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Jones has played eight seasons in the NFL between the Falcons, Browns, and Panthers with 731 total tackles, 50 tackles for a loss, and 12 sacks.

While he was a starter earlier in his career, he has primarily been a backup recently with only eight starts over the past two seasons. However, the addition of Jones could signal a bigger issue for the Bills at linebacker.

Are the Buffalo Bills concerned about Matt Milano's availability to begin the season?

The Buffalo Bills dealt with more than their fair share of injuries on the defensive side of the ball last year. In the first half of the season, DaQuan Jones, Tre'Davious White and Matt Milano all suffered long-term injuries. While Jones was able to return, Milano was not due to his leg injury in Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

In addition to Milano, the Bills saw Terrel Bernard and Tyrel Dodson all miss time later in the season and the linebacker position as a whole became a concern, especially in the playoffs. The reported signing of Deion Jones, combined with the signing of Nicholas Morrow and the draft pick of Edefuan Ulofoshio point to a concerted effort to improve the depth at linebacker.

Whether the addition of Jones, along with the other moves, was just to improve the overall depth or more due to concerns about Matt Milano's availability remains to be seen. That question may not be answered until training camp but it is certainly a smart move to be prepared for either scenario.