Bills sign UDFA LB after previous tryout, waive OT Tommy Doyle

The Buffalo Bills added another member to their 2024 undrafted free agent class, signing linebacker Shayne Simon before Tuesday’s OTA practice. The team waived 26-year-old offensive lineman Tommy Doyle in a matching move.

A four-star recruit out of high school, Simon initially committed to Notre Dame, making 26 tackles and five pass deflections throughout his time on the team. He suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in the Fighting Irish’s first game of the 2021 season, transferring to Pittsburgh ahead of the 2022 campaign. He was an impactful linebacker for the Panthers, totaling 94 tackles, eight breakouts passes and seven sacks in two seasons.

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He primarily shined as a coverage defender at Pitt, earning a 90.8 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus during the 2022 season. Sideline linebackers typically find success in Buffalo’s defense ( look no further than Terrel Bernard and former All-Pro Matt Milano), and Simon, on paper, has the profile of the type of linebacker the team typically covets; he earned a Relative Athletic Rating of 8.05 out of 10 during the pre-draft process.

An obvious target to make the roster, Simon has the best plans as an athletic development piece and potential member of the Bills practice squad. He obviously impressed them, as Simon first tried out for the team during May’s rookie minicamp.

Buffalo moved on from Doyle to clear a roster spot; A fifth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Doyle never stayed on the field consistently throughout his short stint with the team. He will be best remembered for catching a touchdown pass in the Bills’ 2021 Wild Card round victory over the New England Patriots.