Buffalo Bills Re-sign Defensive Tackles Quinton Jefferson and Jordan Phillips

The Buffalo Bills have made significant moves to bolster their defensive line by signing veteran defensive tackles Quinton Jefferson and Jordan Phillips. The signings were announced on Wednesday, following the NFL trade deadline, where the Bills opted not to make any trades but instead brought back familiar faces to their roster.

Quinton Jefferson, who is in his ninth NFL season, was previously with the Bills in 2020 when the team reached their first AFC Championship since 1994. He was released by the Cleveland Browns earlier this week and has a history of pressuring the quarterback, recording 16 sacks and 42 QB hits across 34 starts from 2021 to 2023 with various teams. Jefferson’s return is expected to provide immediate depth and familiarity to the Bills’ defensive scheme.

Jordan Phillips, now in his tenth season, is returning to the Bills for his third stint with the team. He was a member of the Bills from 2018-2019 and again from 2022-2023. Phillips was released by the Dallas Cowboys this week and brings significant experience, having recorded 9.5 sacks with the Bills in 2019. His addition addresses a critical need for the Bills, especially with defensive linemen DeWayne Carter and Dawuane Smoot recently placed on injured reserve.

Both Jefferson and Phillips are expected to integrate quickly into the Bills’ defensive scheme, given their previous experience with the team. This familiarity is crucial as it allows them to get up to speed rapidly, a key factor in the NFL where learning a new team’s scheme can be challenging. The signings also align with Coach Sean McDermott‘s strategy of rotating defensive linemen to keep fresh bodies attacking the opposing quarterback.

The additions of Jefferson and Phillips complement the existing defensive line, which includes Eli Ankou, Ed Oliver, Austin Johnson, DaQuan Jones, and Zion Logue. These moves are aimed at enhancing the team’s pass-rushing capabilities, an area where the Bills have seen limited production from their interior defensive linemen this season).