The Buffalo Bills have constantly been searching for ways to reinforce their defensive line whether it be through trades, drafting, or free agency. The Bills signed Dawuane Smoot shortly after the 2024 NFL draft to a one year, $2.5 million contract.
Smoot appeared to be looking to try to write a new chapter after his production was limited the last two years following his Achilles tear. While he wasn’t expected to be a top contributor at defensive end, he was thought of someone that could provide effective depth and potentially regain some of his pre-injury form.
One of the tough decisions every year during free agency is who to bring back and who to let walk. The discussion below looks at Dawuane Smoot injury history and market value heading into the 2025 season.
Injury History
2017 Jacksonville Jaguars
No publicly reported injuries.
2018 Jaguars
Left wrist injury, offseason.
Smoot worked though a wrist injury that forced him to wear a brace on the area during training camp. The same injury led him to miss offseason workouts. He had later stated that he had surgery on the left wrist when he suffered his right wrist injury in 2024.
Foot/ankle injury, missed 3 preseason games.
Smoot worked through a foot/ankle injury during the beginning of training camp that forced him to miss three preseason games. Different sources have the description different which makes it difficult to determine the extent of the injury. Following this injury, he was a healthy scratch the first eight games.
2019 Jaguars
No publicly reported injuries.
2020 Jaguars
No publicly reported injuries.
2021 Jaguars
COVID/Reserve list, Week 17, missed 0 games.
2022 Jaguars
Right Achilles tear, Week 16, missed 4 games.
Smoot tore his right Achilles playing against the New York Jets. He was forced to miss the remaining two games and two playoff games.
2023 Jaguars
Right Achilles, missed the first 5 games.
Smoot continued to rehab and began training camp on the PUP list which transitioned into the regular season.
2024 Bills
Right Toe injury, prior to Week 1, missed 2 games
Groin strain, Week 7, missed 0 games.
Right wrist ligament tears, Week 9, missed 4 games, on IR.
He got through the preseason before suffering a right turf toe injury that cost him the first two games of the season. When he did return to the field he suffered a groin strain several weeks later and then tore two ligaments in his right wrist engaging a block with Dolphins TE Durham Smythe.
He was forced to go on injured reserve and undergo surgery to repair the damage. He had later stated that he had the same injury in his left wrist back in 2018 that required surgery and still occasionally gives him pain.
Injury Concerns
Smoot looked pretty good coming into Buffalo with the wrist injury and Achilles tear that depressed his market.
Nothing stands out injury-wise that will necessarily reoccur but his wrists may continue to worsen if they become arthritic like the left one appears to be already. He can continue to play even with the wrists the way they are but for how long, that’s unclear.
Was this an unlucky year or is his body beginning to break down after all the years of football?
Drawbacks
Smoot continues to accumulate injuries and is now one more year older. He played in only 11 games because of injuries and 45 percent of defensive snaps. He is not the player he once was and two years removed from any notable production.
Market Value
He signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract when he came to Buffalo last year. Spotrac has him projected as a $2.9 million APY. As for Over the Cap, they have him at $1.02 million, which is actually below the league minimum for a player with his experience. Smoot could certainly come back as a depth option or if he thinks he can contribute but he may see opportunities elsewhere.
Stay or Leave
With how cheap his contract was in 2024 and how long he’s been around, I can see him staying just for some stability. But if the Bills don’t see value in bringing him back, they certainly have other options to increase someone’s role such as Kameron Cline or Javon Solomon. Smoot could be that roadblock for another young pass rusher. If Smoot does leave and takes a similar contract elsewhere, then we know that the Bills prioritize the development of their younger players.
Final Thoughts
Injuries certainly hurt Smoot’s production this year and as an older player, I could certainly see the Bills moving on but also keeping him around as a veteran option. I’m not dead set either way but this may be a diminishing return on investment.
Top Photo Credit: Buffalo News
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