Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - My 2026 "State of the Bills" series continues with a look at the cornerbacks.
Under contract:
- Christian Benford
- Maxwell Hairston
- Davison Igbinosun
- Dee Alford
- Jordan Hancock
- Te’Cory Couch
- Toriano Pride
- Kani Walker
- Jordan Dunbar
Christian Benford has become one of the better players in the NFL at his position, and last year was rewarded by signing a four-year, $69 million contract extension that kicks in this season.
Benford can play in any scheme, able to match up with some of the best receivers in the game man-to-man, as well as understand responsibilities in zone coverage. So there's no doubt he will fit just fine in defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard's new scheme.
The only knock on Benford has been some injuries that have popped up that have caused him to miss games. He has yet to play a full season through his four years in the NFL, missing three games last year and a pair of games each season before that.
Despite that, he’s clearly the top corner on this roster headed into 2026.
Opposite Benford is going to be interesting to see how things unfold.
Maxwell Hairston, last year's first-round pick, will be the incumbent starter when training camp opens. He may be able to keep that job all season, and maybe even for years to come, but the team also drafted Davison Igbinosun (known as “IGB” ) in the second round this year - an indication of how much they liked him.
Igbinosun is not only different than Hairston, but maybe even more of a fit for what Leonhard wants out of his cornerbacks. At 6-foot-2, he’s long, physical, and has plenty of experience in press coverage. Leonhard even said recently that Igbinosun brought traits they didn’t have, and needed in the cornerback room.
It will be interesting and fun to see if he can challenge Hairston for a starting spot, and how quickly, if that’s the case.
At 5-foot-11 and 183-pounds, Hairston certainly isn’t as big as Igbinosun, but he is faster. In fact, he ran the fastest 40-yard dash of any player at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine.
He flashed that speed last year, collecting interceptions in back-to-back games against the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins. But those came after he didn't play at all the first six games of the season due to a knee injury. He then injured his ankle in the regular season finale, and missed the team’s entire playoff run.
Especially at his size, Hairston will have to prove he can stay healthy, and that will be a big part in holding off Igbinosun.
Even if Igbinosun is a backup behind Benford and Hairston, Leonhard will probably find matchups and situations to use him his rookie season.
The Bills gave Dee Alford a three-year, $15.75 million contract early in free agency to take the place of slot corner Taron Johnson.
Alford had spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons, where he started 23 games and collected four interceptions, including three last year. Alford won’t be as physical as Johnson in the run game, but he will be more versatile and athletic. He also won’t be on the field nearly as much as Johnson was in Sean McDermott’s former defensive scheme. Alford can also play outside in a pinch, and has even returned 20 punts in his career.
The Bills drafted Toriano Pride out of the University of Missouri in the seventh round of this year's draft. At 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, Pride might project more to slot corner in the NFL, but the Bills will take a look at him on the outside as well, because of his physicality and ability to play press coverage. He should also be a perfect special teams fit early in his career.
Jordan Hancock was drafted in the fifth round out of Ohio State University a year ago and saw action in 13 games last season. Most of that was on special teams, where Hancock played more than half the snaps in all but one game he dressed.
It looks like the team will use him as a slot cornerback in 2026, something he also did in college. He would then most likely be the backup to Alford, while still playing special teams.
Hancock wore a red non-contact jersey throughout all of OTAs and minicamp, as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery.
Te’Cory Couch is going into his third season with the organization after signing as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Miami in 2024. He’s been on the practice squad his first two years, but has yet to play in an NFL game.
At 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, Couch is another smaller corner whose size suggests he plays inside, but has the tools to play outside, as well. The Bills had him in both spots the last two training camps.
After this year’s draft, the Bills signed Kani Walker and Jordan Dunbar as undrafted free agents.
At Arkansas last season, Walker had one interception to go along with 52 total tackles, including three for loss, a sack, and 11 pass breakups.
Dunbar, who is from Syracuse, played his last year of college football at Missouri State, where he collected a pair of interceptions and 21 total tackles.
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