Bills get a massive bargain on one of the league's most underrated players, leaving only one huge question remaining
Brandon Beane and the Buffalo Bills continue to take care of their own.Checking off his sixth contract extension of the offseason, Beane got a deal done with ascending cornerback Christian Benford, signing him to a 4-year, $76 million deal. On the surface, it looks like great value for one of the leagues best rising talents […]
Brandon Beane and the Buffalo Bills continue to take care of their own.
Checking off his sixth contract extension of the offseason, Beane got a deal done with ascending cornerback Christian Benford, signing him to a 4-year, $76 million deal. On the surface, it looks like great value for one of the leagues best rising talents at the position, and it locks in Buffalo's top cornerback through the 2029 season.
Beane has done incredible work this offseason, and this contract is no different.
At $19 million per season, Benford's new contract has him making the 13th-most money on a per-year basis among all cornerbacks. There is no way you can tell me that there are 12 cornerbacks in the league worth more than him.
Benford played near an All-Pro level last season, and could have certainly been named as one of the two best cornerbacks in the league. The conversation looked like Patrick Surtain II, Derek Stingley Jr., and Benford for much of the season.
All season, I was pounding the table for the fact that Benford is one of the league's most underrated players. Still not a household name, for reasons unbeknownst to me, he played a lights out season and constantly found himself around the ball. A former 6th-round pick, Benford is one of the best recent success stories for Beane in finding late-round talent, allowing them to develop, and then locking them in on an extension.
For Beane, who has shown a huge importance this offsesaon on retaining his own, the extensions of Khalil Shakir, Greg Rousseau, Terrel Bernard, and now Benford keeps the young core of the team together for the forseeable future while the team looks to cash in on Josh Allen's prime.
The biggest remaining question is James Cook, who is set to enter the last year of his rookie contract. Emerging into one of the most explosive running backs in the NFL last season, Beane has to determine whether or not he is willing to meet Cook's price point.
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Follow along all year for more Buffalo Bills coverage on A to Z Sports. You can find me on Bluesky @jonhelmkamp.bsky.social, and make sure to follow our main page @AtoZSports.bsky.social for all the latest news.
