Buffalo Bills 2025 positional review: Cornerbacks
Buffalo Bills 2025 positional review: Cornerbacks
2025 Season Recap
Christian Benford has ascended to the No. 1 cornerback spot for the Buffalo Bills. His development has been remarkable.
Benford, a former sixth-round pick, flashed his coverage skills as a rookie. They have only become stronger, putting him in conversation as one of the top-tier cornerbacks in the game. Benford missed two games last season, and the drop off was quite steep from Benford to the second tier of Bills cornerbacks. Benford missed time against Kansas City in the AFC Championship game, and it was nothing short of a disaster for Buffalo's defense.
Rasul Douglas was stellar when he arrived in Buffalo after a mid-season trade with the Green Bay Packers in 2023. However, after being a turnover machine in his initial season with the Bills, Douglas did not record an interception last year. His play was adequate but didn't live up to his first season in Western New York.
Taron Johnson is one of the most important and underrated players on this roster. Johnson is a premier slot cornerback. He is a stellar coverage corner who blankets slot receivers. Arguably, Johnson is the best at his position in the league.
Ja'Marcus Ingram played well in limited time. He stepped in and showed nice athleticism when called upon. In addition, Ingram played a large chunk of special teams snaps for Buffalo.
The Kaiir Elam experiment seems to be over. Elam is extremely athletic and, in theory, should be a solid cornerback. However, it just hasn't come together for some reason. When pressed into action, Elam looks lost. It's unfortunate because the former first-round pick appeared to be a player who could have been a difference-maker for Buffalo.
Cam Lewis played more safety this past season. However, he still logged time at cornerback when needed in a pinch.
Brandon Codrington played limited snaps at cornerback. His largest contributions came in the return game for the Bills.
Contract Status
Under Contract:
Taron Johnson- through 2027
Christian Benford- through 2025
Kaiir Elam- through 2025
Brandon Codrington- through 2026
Cam Lewis- through 2025
Ja'Marcus Ingram- through 2025
Te'Cory Couch- though 2026
Daequan Hardy- through 2026
Free Agents:
Rasul Douglas
Big Question
Who will start opposite Benford next year?
Benford is in the fold for at least one more year. It would be shocking if the Bills didn't move forward and sign him to a long-term deal. He has blossomed into the top player in the Buffalo secondary.
The spot opposite Benford is a bit more challenging to forecast: Elam has not developed into a reliable player, and Douglas took a step back last year. Buffalo has played a great deal of zone defense, but there are rumblings that things might be changing a little bit in the future. Most likely, the CB2 is not on the roster right now.
Important Stats
Tackles: Cam Lewis (68), Taron Johnson (65)
Interceptions: Christian Benford, Ja'Marcus Ingram, Taron Johnson (2)
Passes defensed: Christian Benford (10)
Tackles for loss: Rasul Douglas (5)
Forced fumbles: Christian Benford (2)
2025 NFL draft
Buffalo's salary cap situation is a bit tight. Thus, they need to make the most of this year's draft. Cornerback is a high priority for the team, so Brandon Beane will need to find a solid option to complement Christian Benford. Buffalo has eight picks, with the possibility of adding two compensatory picks. That draft capital should give the Bills some flexibility in selecting a cornerback by the end of day two in the draft.
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