When looking at the Buffalo Bills roster, one cannot help be struck by the apparent lack of superstars on the team. If the Baltimore Ravens were able to steal any one player from Buffalo, they’d have a hard time choosing through a talented roster that lacks a bunch of defining star players.
They have an improving young quarterback in Josh Allen but he’s far from being in the upper echelon of NFL signal-callers at this stage. There’s a Hall of Fame level running back on the roster, but Frank Gore’s far from the player he was in his prime. John Brown and Cole Beasley are both solid pros but not exactly players that other NFL teams would kick the door down to acquire. Besides, Brown has been on the Ravens roster in the recent past and they let him leave in free agency.
The defense — arguably the strength of this team — does hold an absolute gem and possibly one of the best players at his position in the whole league. Cornerback TreDavious White has been as close to a shutdown corner as you’ll see since coming into the league in 2017. The Bills spent a first-round pick on White coming out of LSU and he’s been well worth the investment. White ranks No. 5 in passes defended since 2017, breaking up 40 in that time. He also ranks sixth among defensive backs with 10 interceptions.
This season he’s virtually shut down half of the field to opposing defenses. Quarterbacks have completed less than 50% of their passes (40-of-81) when targeting receivers covered by White in 2019 and average 5.8 yards-per-target when doing so. He has yet to allow a receiving touchdown.
The Ravens’ defense has improved dramatically ever since the midseason acquisition of cornerback Marcus Peters from the Los Angeles Rams. Wink Martindale’s unit allowed 22.3 points per game in their first seven games of the season. Since Peters arrived, they’ve surrendered an average of 12.6, in spite of an uptick in opposition talent. Peters has chipped in with three interceptions including two returned for touchdowns, but he’s also allowing a 63.4% completion rate when targeted (26-of-41 passes).
I’m not suggesting that the Ravens should have traded for White, which would never have happened as the Bills are not stupid. But can you imagine White closing off half of the field and allowing the predatory Peters to jump routes and make plays knowing he has defensive assistance that White doesn’t require? This defense would be frightening when paired up with Marlon Humphrey, Jimmy Smith, Brandon Carr and Earl Thomas manning other key spots in the secondary.
White is almost certain to be among the highest-paid cornerbacks in the NFL when it comes time to negotiate his next contract. He’ll have earned every penny of it too. It would be lovely if he were able to take his money all the way to the bank in M&T Bank Stadium though, wouldn’t it?
