Bills Starter Reveals Important News about Buffalo’s Newest Acquisition

The Buffalo Bills are striving to reconstruct their team before the 2024 NFL season. They let go of several key veterans to manage their finances, leaving many positions to fill.

However, Buffalo did re-sign defensive tackle DaQuan Jones to a two-year, $16 million contract. The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia wrote that Jones is crucial for the upcoming season as the team lacked a starting defensive tackle.

After two weeks of free agency, the Bills still hadn’t signed another defensive tackle, which was worrying. But on Saturday, March 23, Jones was the first to announce that Buffalo found his backup in Austin Johnson, who used to play for the Los Angeles Chargers.

Jones posted on X,”!!!BREAKING NEWS!!! @BuffaloBills are Signing former Chargers DE @AJohn15 later on today ‘close sources say.'” Johnson replied

, “😂😂😂 Alright Mr. Schefter lmao.”NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport

posted about 20 minutes later, “Sources confirm: Austin Johnson is signing a 1-year deal with Buffalo to play alongside former teammate DaQuan Jones. The deal is worth up to $4M.” Johnson and Jones were teammates at Penn State in 2013. During the 2014 NFL draft, Jones was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the fourth round. Two years later, the Titans drafted Johnson in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft. They were reunited as teammates until Johnson signed with the

New York Giants in 2020. Two years later, Johnson signed a two-year, contract with the Chargers. $14 million Johnson confirmed he was heading to Buffalo on his

Stories and gave Jones a shout-out. He reposted the news announcement and wrote, “And yes @dqj_90 is the best recruiter out” with two laugh-cry emojis. Instagram Austin Johnson was Labeled the ‘Perfect’ Backup for Bills DT DaQuan Jones

While Buffalo

missed out on signing Arik Armstead , Bills analysts were thrilled to learn the Johnson was heading to Orchard Park.WGR 550’s Sal Capaccio

posted, “DT was a huge concern for the Bills heading into the offseason. The only players they had under contract for 2024 were Ed Oliver and Eli Ankou. They’ve since re-signed DaQuan Jones and signed Austin Johnson. Still work to be done as far as numbers, but this looks so much better.” Capaccio noted

, “He can play NT or even DE in a 3-4, but is a DT in a 4-3. So he gives some versatility to kick outside if the Bills want to run an odd front.”Built in Buffalo’s Kevin Siracuse

posted, “The #Bills are beefing up their defensive line! Austin Johnson is the perfect backup for DaQuan Jones at 1-tech.” Over the past two seasons, Johnson appeared in and started 25 games. He recorded 69 total tackles, 3 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 sack.

During the 6-foot-4 314-pounder’s two-year tenure with the Giants, he appeared in 33 games and made 17 starts. The 29-year-old registered 90 total tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 2 passes defensed, and 4.5 sacks.

The Bills Defense Will Look Very Different in 2024

After cutting

Tre’Davious White Jordan Poyer, Siran Neal, and , the Bills announced the departure ofLeonard Floyd . As for All-Pro safety Micah Hyde, he seems to still be thinking about retiring.Among the rush of changes, the Bills re-upped Taylor Rapp with a three-year,

$10.6 million deal and added safety Mike Edwards Kansas City Chiefs from the Buffalo extended.

Taron Johnson , making him thehighest-paid nickel corner in the league. The Bills also signed linebacker Nicholas Morrow Tyrel Dodson while moved on to sign with the Seattle Seahawks. Bills starter DaQuan Jones is the first to break the news of Buffalo signing former Chargers defensive tackle, Austin Johnson.