Bills Training Camp Battles: DT

The Buffalo Bills had some injury issues at the DT position late last season, specifically in the playoff games against the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals. This off-season, they secured enough depth to ensure that doesn’t happen again. Brandon Beane and Co. added UDFA DJ Dale, Poona Ford, and brought back Jordan Phillips. A good amount of additions to a room that already had DaQuan Jones, Tim Settle, and Ed Oliver. So, where does everybody fit in this crowded DT room?

Current Bills DT Room

• Ed Oliver
• Poona Ford
• DaQuan Jones
• Tim Settle
• Jordan Phillips
• DJ Dale
• Cortez Braughton
• Eli Ankou

First off, the top three (Oliver, Ford, Jones) are pretty much locks, with Tim Settle having a pretty good shot at making it. The only players that need to have a good summer to make it are behind them. The only major position battle occuring between the three locks are who starts next to Ed Oliver: Ford or Jones?

Poona Ford vs. DaQuan Jones

The Bills added the 27-year-old Poona Ford shortly after the draft concluded. Ford spent five seasons in Seattle, where he doubled as a pass rusher and a run stopping DT. But I feel like Ford fits best here as a pass rushing tackle. Ford totaled three sacks last year on a Seahawks DL that just couldn’t get in sync at times last year. This year, however, he will come in and compete with DaQuan Jones right away for the starting job, and with the way he made plays in college and the pros, he might just push Jones out of a starting role.

Jones came into Buffalo last off-season, signing a two-year deal with Buffalo. He started all 16 games he played for Buffalo last year, totaling two sacks, 11 QB hits, and 38 tackles. Jones was Buffalo’s best DT for most of last season, and gained respect from his teammates and the fanbase right away. But, with some new younger blood coming in at the position, he could be fighting for a starting spot this summer.