NFL.com named the 10 best defensive backs in coverage in the league recently. Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White lists among them.
Overall, White lands in the No. 4 spot. The metrics used in this analysis are based off of passer rating allowed, catch rate allowed below expectation, tight window percentage, target rate and average separation yards.
Here’s why White is considered one of the best of the best, something Bills fans have been aware of for a while:
White has blossomed into the No. 1 corner Buffalo hoped it was getting when it made him a first-round pick out of LSU in 2017. White faced 84 targets in 2019 and consistently refused to allow defenses to succeed when throwing in his direction, as evidenced by his six interceptions, 17 passes defensed, passer rating allowed (38.9) and catch rate allowed below expectation (-8.4 percent). White forced a tight window at a higher rate than the two Patriots above him on this list even though he played press coverage at a much lower rate. He stashes himself in a receiver’s hip pocket and refuses to leave it, and his ballhawk rate (20.2 percent) is close to that of Gilmore, the No. 1 player on this list. Enough said.
As mentioned, there’s not just Stephon Gilmore, but two Patriots defenders above White on this list. Which, is a tad disappointing. Behind the No. 1 in Gilmore, JC Jackson ranks second. The lone other player above White is Broncos safety Justin Simmons.
That goes to show one why some predict the AFC East might have the Bills as the favorite, but the Patriots aren’t going to hand things over to the Bills without a fight. Quarterback Tom Brady is gone, but their defense is still among the league’s best. Buffalo’s defense, led by White, and their offense, have to be ready to battle for the divisional crown from the get-go.
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