Buffalo Bills: Grading the cornerbacks on roster before 2021 NFL Draft
There aren’t many positions that are clear needs for the Buffalo Bills. However, the cornerback position is one that seems like the Bills are guaranteed to add at least one player in the 2021 NFL Draft. As the roster currently sits, the team has plenty of questions and could go in a number of directions in how they want to address it.
This is my grade for the cornerback position heading into the 2021 NFL Draft and what the Bills might do to add to the position.
Cornerbacks on the Buffalo Bills roster
- Dane Jackson
- Taron Johnson
- Cam Lewis
- Siran Neal
- Levi Wallace
- Tre’Davious White
Position Grade: B-
The good news for the Bills is that the one place they don’t have a question is who their top cornerback is and that is Tre’Davious White. The 2017 first round pick established himself early in his career in that role and the Bills were able to work out a long-term deal last offseason that will keep him there for the next few seasons.
After White though is where the questions start to come into focus. The first is who will be the starting corner opposite White? The Bills have tried to use Levi Wallace and a veteran for a few seasons now and while they brought back Wallace, and he should still have a chance to win the job, it may be time to go in another direction.
That direction could be using a high draft pick early or possibly seeing if Dane Jackson can be the full-time starter. Jackson was a seventh round pick last year and did play well in limited snaps. He also should be in competition for the starting job.
The other question is whether or not Taron Johnson is the long-term starter at nickel. The nickel position is essentially a full-time starter with how much the Bills play defense in this formation. It is an important role and Johnson, who has been the starter, is entering the final year of his rookie contract.
Next. 7-round mock draft for Bills including trade for Zach Ertz. dark
This may result in the Buffalo Bills adding a corner in the NFL Draft who could be the eventual replacement for Johnson. The front office is likely taking a very close look at the cornerbacks and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them add more than one corner to help with the overall depth and be competition for some of these starting roles.