DaQuan Jones and Matt Milano were injured in the same game, a Week Five matchup in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but Pro Football Focus chose Jones as their Buffalo Bill to have a bounce-back season in 2024. Jones was playing at an All-Pro level before suffering the injury that kept him out for the majority of the season, not returning until Week 17. Despite returning, he wasn't the same defensive tackle he was before the injury.
According to PFF, Jones earned a grade of 82.9, ranking 12th among defensive tackles playing at least 200 snaps. The Bills are expecting Jones to be the anchor of the defensive line, eating up blocks and collapsing the pocket. Bills Mafia wants to see him and Ed Oliver return to the high level we saw in the first month of the 2023 season. If we get that from them, it would be huge for the Bills' defense to keep the linebackers free to play sideline to sideline and take some of the pressure off the new-look secondary with potentially two new starting safeties.
Jones was also recently tabbed as the Bills best kept secret by Bleacher Report. He may not be a household name outside the Bills organization and Bills Mafia, but we know who he is and how important Jones is to the Bills defense. He should be fully recovered and healthy for training camp and the 2024 season. If we can get a full season of Oliver, Jones, and Matt Milano playing at the All-Pro level all three were playing during the first four weeks of the 2023 season, the Bills' defense could be once again one of the best in the league.
Buffalo needs their defense to help carry the load early in the 2024 season, while Josh Allen builds chemistry and develops timing with his new wide receivers. I'll also add that given the severity of Milano's injury if he returns to his elite play and stays healthy, he could be a legitimate candidate for Comeback Player of the Year. The Buffalo Bills 2024 season should be fun and exciting with this group, and won't have to deal with the drama they had to endure last year.