The Buffalo Bills are sporting a revamped defensive secondary this season, as they have at least one brand new starter among the team’s five primary defensive backs. It’s “at least one” because, while the team intends to start an old friend at corner who once was an integral part of the defense, he has been battling injury and was unable to suit up in Week One. As a result, the team started a rookie sixth-round draft choice in his place.
That’s not the first time the Bills have started a rookie sixth-rounder
in a season opener in the Sean McDermott era. The first time it happened was the 2022 season. The Bills had drafted a corner in the first round and another in the sixth, and that late-round pick beat out the first-round guy. In the 2025 NFL Draft, the Bills drafted a corner in the first round and another in the sixth, and since the first-rounder is on injured reserve, the sixth-rounder had his time to shine.
The Bills caught lightning in a bottle with that 2022 sixth-round choice, as he has developed into one of the NFL’s best corners throughout his time in the league. In our penultimate edition of “90 players in 90 days,” we discuss that 2022 sixth-round pick.
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Name: Christian Benford
Number: 47
Position: CB
Height/Weight: 6’1”, 205 pounds
Age: 24 (25 on 9/21/2025)
Experience/Draft: 4; selected by Buffalo in the sixth round (No. 185 overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft
College: Villanova
Acquired: Sixth-round draft choice
Financial situation (per Spotrac): Benford is technically playing on the final year of his four-year rookie contract, which explains his low cap number ($2,655,500). He signed a four-year, $69 million contract extension, though, which kicks in next season. As a result, his dead-cap number is significantly higher given the guarantees on that deal. If Buffalo were to cut him, they would carry a dead-cap charge of $18,905,500.
2024 Recap: Benford was phenomenal last season, allowing a measly 8.5 yards per reception on 58 targets. Opposing quarterbacks completed 64% of their passes for just 316 yards while targeting Benford in 15 regular-season games. He sat as a healthy scratch in the regular-season finale, but he also missed Buffalo’s 30-27 win over the Miami Dolphins thanks to a wrist injury. Overall, he had 64 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, 10 pass breakups, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery on the season.
In the playoffs, Benford played in all three games, but he missed time in two of them thanks to a concussion he suffered against the Baltimore Ravens. He returned in time for the AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs, but suffered another concussion after just 12 defensive snaps. He had 12 tackles and a pass breakup in the playoffs.
Positional outlook: Benford is Buffalo’s top corner this year, and a combination of Dorian Strong, who started in Week One, Tre’Davious White, who is dealing with a groin injury, and Maxwell Hairston, who is on Injured Reserve with a knee injury, will start across from him. Ja’Marcus Ingram is the other boundary corner on the current roster.
2025 Offseason: Benford dealt with a groin issue towards the end of training camp, but he was able to play in the opener against the Baltimore Ravens. Frankly, it may have been one of the worst games of his career from a statistical standpoint, as he allowed six catches for 86 yards and two scores on the eight targets where he was the closest man in coverage. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson had a 149 quarterback rating when targeting Benford. He had a team-high seven tackles in the win.
2025 Season outlook: Benford might have had a down night against Baltimore, but nearly everyone on Buffalo’s defense had a bad night against an elite offense. I have zero worries about Benford’s ability to be effective this season, and I have more confidence that he’ll bounce back sooner rather than later than I have about most things.
Benford has been an excellent player from the jump, and while he has struggled to stay healthy, he has played very well in the games where he’s been out there. Benford received one vote for Defensive Player of the Year last season, one of 24 defenders to receive at least one voting point. That wasn’t by mistake, as he is an excellent cover corner, a willing tackler, and a great teammate.
He can play both man and zone, though I feel he’s best suited to play zone, as smaller, quicker receivers can give him some trouble. Overall, he’s a guy I’ll take on my team any day.
