For the first time since 2017, former All-Pro cornerback Tre’Davious White is not a member of the Buffalo Bills. So where does the strength of the Bills cornerback unit lie heading into 2024?
The Bills released White this offseason with a post-June 1 designation, allowing them to save about $10 million in salary cap space. White had been a key piece of the Bills defense under head coach Sean McDermott since they drafted him in the first round in 2017 (the same year they traded back with the Kansas City Chiefs, who wound up drafting Patrick Mahomes). While he had been a fantastic player for the Bills, injuries wrecked large parts of his last three seasons, which included a torn ACL and ruptured achilles. White signed with the Los Angeles Rams in free agency.
It would appear the Bills have two solid starters returning in Christian Benford and Rasul Douglas. Benford has shaped himself into a strong player after the Bills selected him in the 6th round in 2022 out of Villanova. At 6'1", Bedford combines good length with excellent instincts to playing the Bills scheme. In 15 regular season games, he had two interceptions, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and 10 passes defended. He was a capable tackler with 78 combined. His continued development could make him a stalwart of the secondary for years to come.
After White went down with his Achilles injury against the Miami Dolphins, the Bills decided they needed reinforcements, bringing in Douglas via trade with Green Bay during the season. All he did was intercept four passes and recover two fumbles in 9 games in the regular season. Like Benford, the 6'2" Douglas has a lengthy body and instincts to thrive in the Bills zone defense. Douglas, who is heading into the final year of his contract, said this spring that he really didn’t know the playbook well when he arrived in Buffalo beyond what his assignments were game-to-game. He relied on directions from safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, both no longer with the team (Poyer was released and signed with Miami; Hyde remains a free agent while he mulls retirement). With a full offseason to earn the defensive system under McDermott and new coordinator Bobby Babich, the 28-year-old could be in store for another terrific season with the Bills.
That brings us to a player many had pegged as a bust — Kaiir Elam. General Manager Brandon Beane traded up to draft Elam in the first round in 2022, the same year they took Benford five rounds later. Elam played in only three regular-season games in 2023, often a gameday inactive, while also spending time on injured reserve. Elam did have an interception in their playoff win against the Pittsburgh Steelers. His physical traits have never been at issue, but for some reason there was a disconnect between his natural abilities and how the coaches viewed him. However, Elam was impressive during spring practices at OTAs and mandatory minicamp, given more opportunity with both Douglas and Benford missing time. He was consistently noticeable in making plays. The Bills have a new cornerbacks coach in Jahmile Addae, with John Butler no longer with the team. Perhaps a fresh set of eyes could help Elam’s chances of improving and seeing the field more often. Now going into his third season, if Elam is able to get closer to what the team hoped for out of a first round pick, it would be a major boon for the depth of the Bills secondary now, and into the future.
With White and top backup Dane Jackson both gone, a step forward from Elam is critical, especially if Benford or Douglas were to be injured at some point during the season.
