Buffalo Bills Officially Announce Two Signings

The Buffalo Bills officially announced the signings of defensive tackles Austin Johnson and DeShawn Williams. How will they help the team's depth?

Dec 3, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson / Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

The Buffalo Bills entered the 2024 offseason with little in the form of certainty surrounding their defensive line. Veteran edge rusher Von Miller was coming off of a disappointing season and the bulk of the unit – both edge rushers and interior linemen – hit the open market.

After reworking Miller’s contract, the Bills managed to bring back tackle DaQuan Jones and defensive end A.J. Epenesa, both of whom played well in 2023.

However, replacing the team’s depth has proven to be a priority for general manager Brandon Beane.

Dec 3, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson / Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

On Thursday, Buffalo announced two additional signings to its defensive line.

The Bills signed defensive tackles Austin Johnson and DeShawn Williams to one-year contracts.

Jones initially shared the news of Johnson’s signing on March 23, telling the Twitter world “close sources say” they reached an agreement with the lineman. The two are former Penn State Nittany Lions. 

Johnson, a second-round pick, struggled with the Los Angeles Chargers last season, though he projects as an adequate bench body, especially on rushing downs.

Williams, meanwhile, is a small, pass-rush-centric lineman who will likely spend his time in relief of star defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who saw a breakout of sorts in 2023. He spent most of his time in the NFL on the roster bubble, including a brief stop with the Calgary Stampeders. After three seasons with the Denver Broncos, he generated a sack and six quarterback hits with the Carolina Panthers in 2023. He’ll likely be a more versatile lineman than his recently signed counterpart.

The moves are the most recent from a flurry of additions to the front seven, including edge rusher Casey Toohill and linebacker Nicholas Morrow. Given how beleaguered the Bills spent much of their 2023 campaign, it’s no surprise to see depth being addressed early, even in a series of cheaper moves.