PFF free agency grade: Bills DL DaQuan Jones
Another former Carolina Panther has migrated North to join the Buffalo Bills.
In what proved to be a salary cap-based decision the team allowed DT Harrison Phillips to leave and sign a 3-year $19.5 million deal with Minnesota.
To help add talent to the position, Buffalo signed DaQuan Jones. With the move, they add serviceably to the position group on a shorter deal and a smaller price tag.
Here is how Pro Football Focus has graded Buffalo’s deal with Jones:
The interior defensive line market has been strong out of the gate in free agency, and the 30-year-old Jones continues that trend. He’s earned pass rush grades of 65.0 or better in three straight seasons, with at least 20 quarterback pressures.
Jones is a big presence on the interior, with at least 15 defensive stops in every season since 2015. He earns a nice pay raise over his one year flier in 2021 with the Carolina Panthers.
Grade: Average
Jones figures to add a big run-stopping presence slotting in alongside Ed Oliver, helping to fill the void left by Phillips while addressing an area the Bills defense has been actively looking to improve in.
What’s more, he also has the ability to contribute to Buffalo’s pass rush.
In 2021 he had 23 QB pressures and a career-high 69.4 pass-rush grade per PFF.
The #Bills have signed DT DaQuan Jones to a contract, per @diannaESPN
In 2021, Jones had 23 pressures and a career high 69.4 pass rush grade💪 pic.twitter.com/jVmsLvCBB6
— PFF BUF Bills (@PFF_Bills) March 15, 2022
If the team gets this productivity at a more salary cap-friendly price point on a short-term in a player who adds run-stopping and pass-rushing and stays healthy in Jones, then the signing appears to have a good potential upside for Buffalo.
