There are a ton of talking points in should make for an interesting summer for the Buffalo Bills. The defense is undergoing a total overhaul, though virtually everyone feels excited about what new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard can bring to the table. But it is the opposing defenses that are causing a lot of concern for Bills fans.
Amidst a stacked schedule, the Bills have to be considered a contender, especially with the top quarterback in the division. That said, there are more than a few defensive backs that the Bills are going to have to be acutely aware of throughout the 2026 season.
5 defensive backs that could give the Bills fits
5.) Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore Ravens (Week 8)
Aside from Lamar Jackson, there is no singular player as important to the success of the Baltimore Ravens as Kyle Hamilton. He has been a force since entering the league, earning his second first-team All-Pro selection in 2025.
He has the size (6-4) to match up with tight ends and the speed to line up against the best receivers. He is a stout run-stopper (105 total tackles) but can make plays all over the field (nine passes defensed, seven tackles for loss). When he is on the field, the Baltimore defense is dangerous.
4.) Trent McDuffie, Los Angeles Rams (Week 5)
With the blockbuster trade for Myles Garrett, it can be all too easy to forget that the Rams already made a massive trade back in March when they acquired the two-time All-Pro corner McDuffie to shore up their most glaring weakness.
McDuffie is one of the game’s premier shutdown corners with a First- and Second-Team All-Pro selection to his name. At just 25, he is signed long-term and should be a fixture in what looks like a nightmarishly tough Rams defense.
3.) Derek Stingley Jr., Houston Texans (Week 1)
Though Sauce Gardner tends to get more press of the corners drafted in 2022, Stingley has evolved into the best corner in the class. After a pair of solid seasons, he has become one of the game’s premier shutdown corners on one of the best defensive units in the NFL.
Stingley Jr. is coming off his second consecutive First-Team All-Pro selection, defending 15 passes and intercepting four passes. He is the kind of corner that most teams don’t even bother throwing at, and can lock down just about anyone when he is challenged.
2.) Christian Gonzalez, New England Patriots (Weeks 4 & 13)
The Patriots made a splash move to improve their receiver room, but Christian Gonzalez may still be the best overall player on the team. The 2023 first-round pick has been outstanding since taking over a starting role in 2024.
He is coming off one of his best seasons to date and was an absolute force during the Patriots’ run to the Super Bowl. The soon-to-be 24-year-old is easily one of the game’s best corners and should only get better with experience, especially seeing Allen on a regular basis.
1.) Patrick Surtain II, Denver Broncos (Week 16)
Patrick Surtain II has been the real deal since he arrived in the NFL in 2021. The past four seasons, he has been arguably the best corner in the game, with a pair of First-Team All-Pro and a Second-Team All-Pro selection.
The 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year is a complete corner, virtually impossible to have success against. The crown of “best corner in the NFL” is Surtain’s until someone takes it from him.
Josh Allen will have to be disciplined
Perhaps more than any other season in his career, Allen needs to be disciplined with where he throws the ball. Turnovers have become a part of his story over the years, and it would be all too easy to commit several against this group. If he can remain disciplined, it will further underscore just how elite a quarterback Allen has become.
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