The Buffalo Bills have traditionally relied on homegrown talent at cornerback but now face a decision on whether to retain a player they acquired via trade.
Buffalo traded for Rasul Douglas from the Green Bay Packers at the 2023 trade deadline. He is ranked as the third-best free-agent cornerback and 15th overall free agent by Pro Football Focus (PFF). Douglas is one of 16 Bills players set to hit free agency this offseason.
Since joining Buffalo, Douglas has started 23 of 24 games, with the lone exception being when he was humorously listed on the injury report as “just got here” following the trade. In 2023, he made a significant impact, recording four interceptions (including a pick-six), two fumble recoveries, eight passes defensed, a sack, and 29 tackles in nine games.
However, his performance declined in 2024. He failed to record an interception for the first time since 2020 and posted career-worst marks in completion percentage allowed (72.9%) and passer rating against (122.0). He finished the season with 58 tackles, a forced fumble against Lamar Jackson, five passes defensed, and tied a career high with six stuffs in 15 games. His PFF grade dropped from 82.2 in 2023 to 59.2 in 2024.
Douglas, who turns 31 in August, just completed a three-year, $21 million contract. Spotrac estimates his market value at $11.9 million per year. Meanwhile, Buffalo’s top cornerback, Christian Benford, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Benford, a sixth-round pick in 2022, has outperformed expectations on a four-year, $3.85 million deal and could be in line for an extension. He recorded 64 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, a sack, and 10 passes defended in 15 games, earning an 82.6 PFF grade—fifth-best among cornerbacks.
At his end-of-season press conference, Bills GM Brandon Beane acknowledged that cornerback is a position the team will evaluate in the offseason, considering options through extensions, free agency, or the draft.
Historically, the Bills have rarely started cornerbacks they didn’t originally draft or sign as undrafted free agents. Since 1995, only three Week 1 starters—Douglas, E.J. Gaines (2017), and Drayton Florence (2010-11)—were acquired from other teams. In contrast, 18 others, including Benford, Kaiir Elam, Tre’Davious White, Stephon Gilmore, and Antoine Winfield, were homegrown talents.
As Douglas enters free agency, potential landing spots include a return to Green Bay or a move to Minnesota. PFF highlights the Packers as a logical fit, given Douglas’ prior success with the team and Green Bay’s current need at cornerback. The Vikings also emerge as a strong option, as Douglas’ skill set aligns well with defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ aggressive scheme, potentially filling the void left by former Bills corner Stephon Gilmore.
Gilmore, Buffalo’s 2012 first-round pick, became a Pro Bowler before leaving for the Patriots, where he won the 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. Now, Douglas may follow a similar path, determining his next chapter as free agency approaches.
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