Buffalo Bills’ third-year cornerback Christian Benford has been impressive since getting his first opportunity in the league as a rookie in 2022, but this year he looks like one of the best all-around corners in the NFL.
The national outlets are starting to catch on, but the Bills’ locker room has always known what they had. Fellow Bills cornerback Rasul Douglas was the latest to praise the up-and-comer:
“He went to a basketball school… Villanova… so I don’t think they were looking for football players,” Douglas said after practice Wednesday. “Whenever he gets around a play he’s gonna make sure you know he’s around. He’s disciplined… he’s got good technique… he just likes playing football and likes competing. That’s the attribute you gotta have if you wanna get out there and get better, and he has that.”
After putting his name on the map in 2023, Benford looked elite in the first two weeks of 2024. According to PFF, he has allowed just a 40% catch rate and has posted the seventh-highest defense grade among all cornerbacks. He’s a big part of the reason why the Bills have three interceptions through two games (T-4 in the NFL), He has an interception of his own and also was closest in coverage as Ja’Marcus Ingram reeled in a deflection for his first-career INT.
Douglas has had his fair share of success in the NFL, too, so his words aren’t something to glance over. He has 19 interceptions in his 8-year career. Douglas is tied with Daron Bland and Justin Simmons for the most interceptions in the NFL since 2021.
The pair of cornerbacks is exactly what Sean McDermott looks for to play on the boundary of his defense: rangy, smart players who can read a QB’s eyes and also come up and tackle when needed.
Speaking of the coach, while complimenting Benford’s successes, he credits Douglas for them too–Both on and off the gridiron.
“It seems like they’ve formed a nice little bond off the field, as well,” McDermott said via video conference. “I think that’s important. Rasul’s been in the league a little bit longer than CB, and he can share some of his wisdom with CB and how things work, and the journey, right, of an NFL corner. That’s been interesting and fun to watch. I think it’s helped CB, as well, and maybe in some ways helped Rasul.”
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