Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane indicated no intention of pursuing major trades in free agency, but there’s potential for him to bring back a familiar face at a reduced cost. After the Jacksonville Jaguars released wide receiver Zay Jones, just five days after drafting Brian Thomas Jr., it became apparent that Jones, in the final year of his $24 million contract, wasn’t a top priority, potentially ranking fourth on the depth chart. This move saved Jacksonville $4.18 million in cap space but incurred $6.56 million in dead money. Given Jones’s previous ties with the Bills, there’s speculation that he might join Buffalo’s receiving corps, especially since the team only drafted one receiver, Keon Coleman, in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft.
The Bills made a move up the draft board to select Jones in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft. Despite being drafted with high hopes, the East Carolina alum struggled to make an impact in his rookie year and faced legal issues due to an off-season hotel incident that resulted in an arrest. However, Jones began to find his stride once quarterback Josh Allen joined the Bills. In the 2018 season, he posted impressive statistics with 56 receptions, 652 yards, and 7 touchdowns.
Following his stint with the Bills, Jones was traded to the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders in October 2019 in exchange for a 2021 fifth-round pick. After spending three seasons with various teams, he eventually found himself in Jacksonville.
In his last two seasons, spanning 25 games, Jones accumulated 116 receptions for 1,144 yards and 7 touchdowns. However, he faced setbacks, missing eight games in the previous season due to knee and hamstring injuries. Additionally, he had a legal issue, being arrested on a domestic violence charge, although it was later dropped, as reported by the AP.
With the departure of Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans and Gabe Davis leaving in free agency, the Bills were expected to address their wide receiver needs by selecting two players in the NFL draft.
With Coleman expected to take on the role of the new X-receiver for the Bills, Buffalo might seek to bolster their receiving corps with another experienced player. Once the $10.2 million becomes available on June 1 following Tre’Davious White’s release, the Bills could consider adding Jones to their roster. Joe Buscaglia from The Athletic anticipates that Brandon Beane will be active in the second wave of free agency.
Buscaglia suggests that the Bills will be involved in discussions to acquire a veteran player who can make an immediate impact in the 2024 season, possibly on a short-term contract. Before Jones’s release, Buscaglia had mentioned free agent wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Tyler Boyd as top options. While Beckham may be the more recognizable name, Boyd offers reliability, having served as a dependable slot receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals for an extended period. Adding a cost-effective player like Boyd would align with the Bills’ needs and objectives.
During the October 8 matchup against the Bills, Jones contributed three catches for 23 yards and a touchdown in the Jaguars’ 25-20 victory, but he had to leave the game in the third quarter due to a knee injury. His season was marked by various injuries, causing him to miss half of the games.
Jones made a comeback in Week 18, securing 6 out of 9 targets for 49 yards against the Titans. However, the Jaguars’ 28-20 loss dashed their playoff hopes. Reflecting on the season, Jones expressed a mix of frustration for not meeting their goals and gratitude for their position.
In an interview with The Florida Times-Union, Jones shared the primary lesson he learned from the challenging season: patience. He emphasized the strength found in accepting circumstances beyond one’s control and having faith that things will eventually work out.
“I’m eagerly anticipating whatever changes may come and focusing on the future ahead. This offseason, I’ll carry these lessons with me, aiming to evolve as a leader, teammate, and supportive presence among my peers.”
