Quintez Cephus, a wide receiver who was one of the five players the NFL suspended for gambling violations in April of last year, reached an agreement with the Bills for a one-year contract, The Athletic reports.
The Lions cut Cephus, a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, and safety C.J. Moore in April following their indefinite ban for NFL wagering.
Lions wideouts Stanley Berryhill and Jameson Williams received six-game suspensions, along with Cephus and Moore. Shaka Toney, a defensive end with the Commanders, received a suspension that would keep him out of the game for at least 2023.
The NFL reinstated five players earlier this month, including Cephus.
He posted on X about the Bills deal that happened earlier on Sunday, saying, “Thank you, God,” and finishing it with the Bills Mafia hashtag.
Prior to the suspension, Cephus had three seasons and 37 receptions for 568 yards and four touchdowns with the Lions; however, Detroit chose to cut ties with him as soon as the ban was announced due to his involvement in gambling crimes.
Part of the statement made at the time by Lions Executive Vice President and General Manager Brad Holmes stated, “These players exhibited decision-making that is not consistent with our organizational values and violates league rules.” “We have decided to immediately part ways with Quintez and C.J.”
This kept Cephus off a Lions team led by quarterback Jared Goff, running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, and rookie tight end Sam LaPorta that captured the NFC North, won back-to-back postseason games for the first time since 1957, and ultimately lost to the 49ers in the NFC Championship game, missing out on a Super Bowl berth.
Cephus will now be a part of a Bills team that will have to replace the output of No. 1 wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who was traded to the Texans earlier this month in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick, and No. 2 receiver Gabe Davis, who signed a free agent contract with the Jaguars.
After trading down and eventually getting out of the first round, they selected Florida State wide receiver Keon Coleman with pick No. 33. They anticipate him to start the season, but Buffalo has a depth chart that includes Curtis Samuel, Khalil Shakir, Justin Shorter, Mack Hollins, and KJ Hamler in addition to Coleman.
To become a top target for Josh Allen, the Bills also selected Dalton Kincaid in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
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