The Bills have reshaped their cornerback room with some brand-new and familiar faces.
After failing to make an impact in the AFC Championship, no thanks to Christian Benford leaving the game with a concussion, the Bills group of cornerbacks needed renovations on both their ceiling and floor; starting with the resigning of Tre'Davious White and ending with the first round selection of Maxwell Hairston.
The Bills also signalled a potential change in defensive philosophy by hiring former Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen to be a senior defensive assistant. Nielsen's Jaguars ranked second in man coverage rate last season.
After signing a 4 year, $76 million contract to remain in Buffalo, Benford leads the transition as one of the two starting outside cornerbacks. Taron Johnson remains as the starting slot defender, so the Bills first priority is finding the running mate for Benford. Maxwell Hairston seems like the obvious choice, considering he has the athletic upside to play man coverage, but White is familiar with the team's defensive scheme — a trait that has been valued by Sean McDermott in the past.
Who should be the Bills' CB2 opposite of Christian Benford?
Given the team's strong investment in him, Hairston will be given every opportunity to win the empty starting position; but nothing is guaranteed in Buffalo. Former first round draft pick Kaiir Elam only started 12 games in three seasons, despite being taken with the 23rd overall selection in 2022.
With Benford missing each of the past two playoff defeats, the depth could be tested as well. The Bills resigned Dane Jackson who made 14 starts with the team in 2022, before adding two more defensive backs in the later rounds of the 2025 draft. Most notably, cornerback Dorian Strong was selected in the sixth round after playing five seasons at Virginia Tech. While Jordan Hancock, drafted in the fifth round from Ohio State, projects more as a safety or nickel cornerback.
Cam Lewis and Ja'Marcus Ingram also return for their sixth and fourth training camps, respectively. And Daequan Hardy provides additional competition after being drafted in the 6th round of the 2024 draft.
Last season, the Bills kept seven cornerbacks on the 53-man roster after the preseason, including primary returner Brandon Codrington who remains on the roster. Benford, Johnson, White and Hairston are locks to make the team, but the remaining players will battle for two or three more spots.
Codrington likely misses the cut because he provides zero upside as a cornerback and Jackson struggled during one season for the Carolina Panthers in 2024. Lewis has previously acted as the primary backup to Johnson, but the team can save nearly $2 million by releasing him — and Brandon Beane has attempted to build a roster which is younger and cheaper.
So, which players make the team?
Christian Benford, Taron Johnson, Maxwell Hairston, Tre'Davious White, Dorian Strong and Cam Lewis
The first three players will open as the starting unit in 2025. Hairston has the instincts to play zone coverage and the athleticism to play man coverage, the latter of which is missing from White's game as he prepares for his age-30 season.
As for the depth, Strong beats out Jackson for the secondary backup position after many thought he should have been drafted one or two rounds earlier. Lewis remains on the roster for his special teams ability and experience playing behind Johnson who has dealt with numerous injuries over the past two seasons. While Hancock makes the roster as a safety.
The entire unit looks different from last season, but change has been customary for the Bills cornerback room. McDermott and Beane are hoping this rotation will be the one which propels them past the Kansas City Chiefs and the remaining group of Super Bowl contenders in the AFC.