Underrated Bills CB Could Become a ‘Star’ in 2024 NFL Season

Few players on the Buffalo Bills’ current roster have built a more quiet rise than Christian Benford.

He’s the epitome of Sean McDermott’s defensive back in the sense that he just does what he’s supposed to do. It’s not necessarily flashy. He’s not a playmaker who sells balls. He’s not an athlete from another world.

He has just achieved his 1/11th, which, in two seasons, has allowed him to establish himself as a young strong point in the Buffalo defense.

He didn’t come into the league with a slew of expectations attached to him — a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Division 1 school FCS Villanova, it was hard to expect much- thing of the defender. The most talked about cornerback was Kaiir Elam, who the Bills traded up to select with the 23rd overall pick in the draft; Benford was considered by many to be a candidate to transition to safety.

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But he simply showcased his abilities and work ethic throughout spring and summer practices, quietly working his way up the depth chart before finally landing a starting role in the Week 1 game of Buffalo with the Los Angeles Rams during the 2022 season. A hand injury forced him to miss significant periods of his rookie year; he ultimately appeared in nine games, recording 24 tackles, five pass deflections and one interception.

Benford became a more important player in the team’s defense during his sophomore year, starting 14 games while totaling 54 tackles, 10 pass deflections and two picks. He was reliable in coverage and a good tackler, cementing a starting role in a Buffalo defense that values ​​consistency more than splash plays.

With a starting role now firmly in his hands, it may be time for Benford to take the next step in his development, evolving from a reliable cornerback to a game changer. CBS Sports writer Tyler Sullivan, identified the 23-year-old as a player with the opportunity to “burst onto the scene” and become a “star” during the 2024 season, using Benford’s past success as the basis for his claim .

“Benford is entering his third season in the league, and there is reason to believe the former Villanova sixth-round pick will burst onto the scene in 2024,” Sullivan wrote. “With Tre’Davious White off the roster after signing with the Rams in free agency, the opportunity is there for him to earn one of the starting cornerback jobs full-time. He started 14 games a season ago and held quarterbacks to an 88.8 passer rating when targeted in coverage.

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We agree with Sullivan’s belief that Benford could become a nationally recognized player during the 2024 season, but his logic is a bit misplaced: He got the answer right, but his calculations were wrong. Benford has Already earned one of the team’s starting cornerback positions, long before stalwart defensive back Tre’Davious White was released. ​​In fact, the two started four games with each other last season before White tore his Achilles tendon in a Week 4 win over Miami. Dolphins.

White was ultimately replaced by Rasul Douglas, who the team acquired at the 2023 trade deadline. Douglas and Benford faced off in the final six games of Buffalo’s 2023 season and enter the 2024 campaign as undeniable holders.

The elements of a potential breakout season are there for Benford; If he can throw a few more interceptions – something he was doing at an accelerated rate late last season – national recognition and accolades could come flooding in.