Buffalo Bills DT DaQuan Jones has All-Pro expectations in 2024

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WKBW) — DaQuan Jones was having one of the best years of his NFL career. He was a force on the Buffalo Bills defensive line and played a big role in some dominant performances from that unit through the first four games of the 2023 season.

Then the team went to London and everything went wrong. Jones suffered a significant pectoral injury that kept him sidelined for most of the regular season. When he came back, he was playing injured and not at 100 percent. But last season’s adversity and the chemistry already built in Buffalo made Jones’ free agency decision simple.

“I want to go out there and prove to the city of Buffalo and this team and my teammates that I’m the player they want and need down here in the middle and that I can go out there and help this team get take it to the next level,” Jones told 7 Sports during Bills OTAs.

The 32-year-old defensive tackle signed a two-year, $16 million contract with the Bills at the start of his free agency period. Given his experience in the league and his age, it’s not unrealistic to think that Jones’ NFL career is in its waning years, which is part of why he wants to make the most of the next few seasons . Despite his serious injury in 2023, he has lofty goals for his team and himself.

“All-Pro is my mindset. Everyone is wondering: Have you ever been All-Pro? I say no, I didn’t, but in 11th grade I’m trying to become an All-Pro and I’m still trying to push myself to play at a high level and compete with these guys and compete. making sure I’m doing my part so guys like Ed Oliver, AJ Epenesa and Greg Rousseau can all go out there and do their job.

“We say you either grow or you die a little bit, you never stay the same, and he’s constantly working on that growth,” defensive coordinator Bobby Babich said. “It’s fun to watch, I love DQ, and he does a great job for us trying to do what we ask at a high level.”

Jones said he tries to pay very little attention to the noise surrounding his team and the entire league. But he knows some people are sleeping on the Bills this season, which is a role they can handle.

“Let them talk, let them sleep on us, let them bring attention to Miami, or the Jets, to New England. We can just fly under the radar and continue to rack up the wins and hopefully reach the promised land this year. But I mean let them speak, we’ll let our style of play speak for us.

Jones and the Bills begin mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, June 11. After three days of minicamp, the Bills will be off until training camp which begins July 23 in Rochester.