Buffalo Bills cornerback has yet to earn a Pro Bowl or All-Pro selection. He has never recorded more than two interceptions in a single season and isn’t widely regarded as one of the elite players at his position. However, that doesn’t mean he hasn’t performed at a high level. Despite being a former sixth-round pick who has flown under the radar, analytics and coverage metrics indicate that he is among the best at his position. His new contract, which ranks 13th among all cornerbacks in terms of salary, makes him an incredible value for the Bills moving forward.
Over the past three seasons, he has quietly established himself as one of the league’s most underrated defensive backs, a quality that head coach Sean McDermott greatly admires. “I think, more than anything, Christian Benford just continues to work hard every day to try to be the best that he can be,” McDermott said. “He just does a really good job at staying on task and honing in on what his job is every week and how he wants to improve. You’re seeing the results of that.”
Benford’s new four-year, $76 million contract comes with an average annual salary of $19 million, significantly lower than what Sauce Gardner is expected to earn with the AFC East rival New York Jets. Given Benford’s strong performance and potential for continued growth, his deal represents a tremendous bargain for Buffalo.