The Buffalo Bills announced the addition of their latest team member on Thursday morning, as experienced defensive lineman DeShawn Williams finalized a one-year deal with the Bills.
Ryan Talbot was the first to report the impending signing of Williams, who joins Buffalo following a stint with the Carolina Panthers. With Williams, the Bills acquire another seasoned defensive lineman with recent starting experience.
At 31 years old, Williams brings a wealth of professional football experience, initially entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2015. Following three seasons with the Bengals, Williams traversed various practice squads in 2018 before returning to the Broncos in 2019 and later joining the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders for the 2020 season.
Returning to the Broncos in 2020, Williams secured a spot on the active roster, delivering a standout performance during his final season with the team. Notably, he tallied 4.5 sacks in December alone, along with 37 tackles, four tackles for loss, eight quarterback hits, and three pass defenses throughout the season.
Despite his eight-year career in professional football, Williams may possess less wear-and-tear due to his tenure as a practice squad player. With stats credited in five NFL seasons and a stint in the CFL, Williams has started 44 of his 66 total games played as an NFL defensive lineman.
Of note, Williams has established connections within Buffalo’s defensive line room, having been teammates with Von Miller in Denver and sharing a bond with Shaq Lawson from their high school days in Central, SC.
As for Williams’ role within Buffalo’s defense, it remains to be determined. Standing at 6’1” and weighing 295 pounds, he exhibits versatility, capable of fulfilling various positions depending on defensive schemes, from defensive end in 3-4 alignments to nose tackle in 4-3 base alignments, indicating his potential to contribute significantly to the team’s defensive efforts.
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