Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR 550) - The Buffalo Bills are making a few additions to the roster in the week following the 2024 NFL Draft.
The team announced on Friday the signing of linebacker Deion Jones, defensive end Dawuane Smoot and wide receiver Chase Claypool each to one-year contracts.
Jones comes to Buffalo from the Carolina Panthers, where he put up 35 total tackles, one sack, six passes defended and an interception in 13 games played and three starts.
Over the course of his eight-year career since being drafted in the second round (52nd overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft, the 29-year-old has spent time with three different organizations - Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns and the Panthers.
In Atlanta, Jones did put up a Pro Bowl caliber season in 2017, where he racked up 138 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, one sack, 10 passes defended and three interceptions.
During the 2022 season, Jones was traded to Cleveland, where he finished that year with 44 total tackles, 2.5 sacks and one interception in 11 games played. He then left to sign with the Panthers in free agency.
Prior to coming to Buffalo, Smoot spent the first seven years of his career entirely with the Jacksonville Jaguars after being a third-round pick (68th overall) in the 2017 NFL Draft.
In 99 games played with the Jaguars, the 29-year-old tallied 133 total tackles, 64 quarterback hits, 27 tackles for loss, 23.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, five passes defensed and two fumble recoveries.
As for Claypool, the 25-year-old has been on quite the tour with three separate teams over the course of his four-year NFL career.
After being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round (49th overall) in the 2020 NFL Draft, Claypool had a strong rookie campaign with 873 receiving yards on 62 receptions and nine touchdowns.
Over parts of three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Claypool totaled 2,044 yards on 153 receptions and 12 scores.
Claypool was then traded to the Chicago Bears, where he played in just 10 games, reeling in only 18 passes on 43 targets for 191 yards and a touchdown.
After a tumultuous stint in Chicago, Claypool was traded once again, this time to the Miami Dolphins, where he caught four passes for just 26 yards in nine games.
