With the Bills’ secondary rated just 20th heading into 2025. This unit suffered from a declining Rasul Douglas, injury and having to use spare parts with Kair Elam. Some of the issues were also related to injuries at safety and the ineffective / inconsistent play of the defensive line upfront. There’s no doubt this cornerback room needed an upgrade and it looks like we've taken big steps in the offseason to correct our issues. Let’s break down who’s in the mix and why they matter.
1. Christian Benford
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Coming off a monster 2024 season: 64 tackles, 10 pass deflections, 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 1 sack, and 1 fumble recovery
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He graded out as the 6th-best cornerback in coverage by PFF
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Locked in through 2029 with a four-year, $76M extension. he’s the clear face of the position and provides much-needed consistency.
2. Tre’Davious White
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A familiar face back in blue, White returns after a couple of years away
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While the stats aren't fresh, his experience and instincts still matter. He’s expected to be a veteran counterpart to Benford and mentor in the secondary. If he can stay healthy and bring back some of his pre-injury magic, he'll be a huge lift to the unit.
3. Maxwell Hairston
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First-round pick out of Kentucky, brings elite speed (4.28s 40-yard) and big-play potential—six interceptions, three pick-sixes in college.
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Scouting buzz calls him a good zone fit with man-coverage upside.
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Unfortunately, he suffered a training camp knee injury recently—reporters call it a freak non-contact misstep. Recovery updates pending, but when healthy, he’s a game-changing athlete.
4. Taron Johnson
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Signed a three-year, $30M extension through 2027
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Despite missing some time in 2024 with injury, he still managed 65 tackles, 5 PDs, 2 INTs, 1 forced fumble, 1 sack
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A proven nickelback presence, he’s both reliable and ready to make splashes in coverage. One of the best slot corners in the league.
5. Dane Jackson
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Originally a seventh-round pick in 2020, and now back in Buffalo after a stint in Carolina
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Not flashy, but he brought valuable plays in camp—reporters noted pass breakups from him during drills
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A solid, dependable veteran for depth and rotation. He's not flashy, but he's steady.
6. Dorian Strong
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A sixth-round pick from Virginia Tech, admired for football IQ and zone awareness, even if not uber-athletic.
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Early buzz has been positive—Strong is seen as a smart coverage piece who could outplay his draft slot.
7. Ja’Marcus Ingram
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Undrafted free agent in 2022 who played every game of 2024.
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Piled up 24 tackles, 2 INTs (one TD), 4 PBUs, while playing mostly on special teams.
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Roster spot is in question with new competition, but he’s definitely a name to watch for depth or practice squad roles.
How They Can Click as a Unit—And Why It Matters
In 2024, the Bills allowed the 24th-most passing yards in the league. Their defense overall was top-12 in points allowed and top-3 in takeaways—not bad, but the secondary held them back.
Stability in the secondary starts with Benford's elite playmaking, paired with White’s instincts. Johnson locks down the slot, while Hairston (when healthy) injects game-changing speed outside. Strong and Jackson provide depth, and Ingram adds special-teams value.
That cohesion would let the pass rush fly off the edge, knowing the back end can clamp down. Over time, fewer breakdowns = fewer big passing plays = defensive consistency. That’s how units become dreaded.
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