Buffalo Bills 2021 Offseason Position Preview: Cornerback
The Buffalo Bills locked up their top cornerback, Tre’Davious White, last offseason in a five-year deal. However, the starting job opposite White continues to be a question mark and the free agent addition of Josh Norman didn’t help improve the spot this past season.
Let’s take a look at the cornerbacks under contract and who is a free agent entering this offseason.
Under Contract in 2021
Tre’Davious White
Taron Johnson
Cam Lewis
Dane Jackson – Reserve/Future Contract
The Buffalo Bills are fortunate that they know who is at the top of the depth chart with Tre’Davious White. He is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL and having him on the field helps with questions further down the depth chart.
The starting job opposite White is something they will need to address and that answer could be Dane Jackson. The team’s seventh round draft pick spent most of the year on practice squad but did play in five games and started two.
After Jackson is Taron Johnson, who is the team’s starting slot corner. He struggled early in the season but played well down the stretch. The Bills also do have depth at this position with Cam Lewis, who started in place of Johnson when he was benched for Week 6. However, Lewis suffered an injury that forced him to miss the rest of the year and allowed Johnson to return to the starting spot.
Free Agents
Levi Wallace – Restricted Free Agent
Josh Norman – Unrestricted Free Agent
E.J. Gaines – Unrestricted Free Agent
In terms of free agents, Levi Wallace is the one most likely to return. While he hasn’t been able to win the starting cornerback job opposite White, he does have starting experience and is still a young corner. Those are tough to find in free agency and usually cost more than what a contract for Levi Wallace would cost the Bills.
Josh Norman joined the Bills last offseason after being released by Washington. While he had some good moments, he did struggle and if the Buffalo Bills were to bring him back it would likely be strictly for depth reasons and likely a veteran minimum type deal.
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E.J. Gaines was signed last offseason but elected to opt out of this past season due to the pandemic. The Bills released him after the season.