The Buffalo Bills return to the AFC Championship for the first time since the 2020 season isn’t all the excitement surrounding the team this week. Bills rookie defensive back, Brandon Codrington, has been named to the Pro Football Writers of America’s All-Rookie team as a punt return specialist. Codrington earned the honors after a great season returning punts for the team, as one of the bright spots of a Buffalo special teams unit that was unusually shaky this year.
Codrington, an undrafted free agent signing of the New York Jets, was acquired by the Bills in a rare in-division trade on August 27th. The Bills sent a 2026 sixth-round draft pick to the Jets, for Codrington and a 2026 seventh-round selection. While he flashed returning the ball for the Jets in preseason, they already have a talented return man in Xavier Gipson. Bills’ fans know Gipson all too well, as the shifty returner walked off the Bills in overtime last season on a 65-yard touchdown return in overtime.
Codrington returned 27 punts this season for 313 yards, with a long of 29 yards, and helped the Bills flip field position numerous times. He only fair caught the ball eight times as the twitchy and quick acceleration return man likes to do his job.
He also returned 11 kickoffs for 306 yards and his longest return was 53 yards. That 53-yard kick return against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1 (Codrington’s NFL Debut), was the longest by any Bills’ rookie since Marcus Easley’s 55-yarder in 2012 against the Jaguars.
Codrington’s 313 punt return yards ranked as the fourth most in the NFL this season. Of returners with 27 or fewer punt returns this season, only Marvin Mims of Denver, and Marcus Jones of New England had more yards. His 11.6-yard return average was sixth most in the league. Only two players who had 11 or fewer kick return attempts have more than Codrington’s 306 kick return yards.
Codrington played four seasons of college ball at North Carolina Central University. He played some cornerback and was mainly a return specialist. In his sophomore season in 2021, he was named an HBCU college football All-American as a punt returner. Codrington also earned All-MEAC First Team Honors as the third-leading punt returner in NCAA Division 1-FCS with a 15.0-yard punt return average that also led the MEAC.
The PFWA has continuously selected an All-Rookie team since 1974. The 5’9” 185lbs return specialist has provided the Bills with their best return game in a long time. Since the team parted ways with Andre Roberts a few years ago, it’s felt like they haven’t been able to replace his production.
With Codrington now back there it gives the Bills a dynamic returner, and it’s nice to see him earn recognition for the very solid and under-the-radar season he has had. It was another overlooked sneaky-good deal that Bills’ general manager Brandon Beane has wheeled and dealed since he arrived in Buffalo. Little moves like this one are a massive reason why the Bills are in the AFC Championship, despite having some of the highest dead cap in the NFL.