Buffalo Bills helmet shown on field.Buffalo Bills helmet (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)


The Buffalo Bills have signed a former Pro Bowler to bolster their depth on the defensive side of the ball.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Buffalo Bills have signed former Atlanta Falcons Pro Bowl linebacker Deion Jones to a one-year contract. The 29-year-old spent last season with the Carolina Panthers.

Jones was drafted in the second round (52nd overall) by the Falcons in 2016. After helping them to a Super Bowl 51 appearance in his rookie year, Jones earned a 2017 Pro Bowl selection after recording three interceptions, 10 pass breakups, one sack and 138 combined tackles.

The former LSU star joins a Buffalo defense that underwent a massive facelift in the early stages of the 2024 offseason. The team parted ways with star defensive backs Tre’Davious White, Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde and outside linebacker Leonard Floyd.

Because of their tricky cap situation, the Buffalo Bills were unable to make any big splashes on the defensive side of the ball in free agency. Signing Jones to a cheap one-year deal carries no risk and some potential rewards for head coach Sean McDermott and company.

For his career, Jones has 13 interceptions, 53 pass defenses, five forced fumbles, 12 sacks and 731 tackles. He spent his first six seasons in Atlanta before signing with the Cleveland Browns in 2022, where Jones spent a year before he arrived in Carolina.

Buffalo Bills Still Have More Holes To Fill

With offseason training camp drawing closer, there’s still plenty of work for Buffalo Bills GM Brandon Beane to do if his club is to compete for a playoff spot again in 2024.

The Bills still need another wide receiver after losing both Stefon Diggs (traded to the Houston Texans) and Gabe Davis (signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars). Adding more pass-rushing depth and at least one more starting defensive back is also pivotal for Beane, though he now has limited resources to do so.