The Buffalo Bills found an absolute steal in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, selecting cornerback Christian Benford 185th overall. Since then, Benford has outplayed former first-round pick Kaiir Elam and has developed into a talented and reliable starter for the defense. He has 155 tackles, five interceptions, and 26 pass deflections in 43 regular season and postseason games and 38 total starts.
Benford had a great third season, building off his solid performance in his second season. He recorded 64 tackles, two interceptions, and ten pass defections, giving up 37 receptions on 58 targets for 316 yards, four touchdowns, and an 86.6 passer rating in 15 starts. He also had 12 tackles and one pass deflection and allowed seven receptions on 11 targets for 120 yards and a 100.6 passer rating in the postseason.
The Buffalo Bills star enters the final year of his contract
Christian Benford enters the final year of his rookie deal. Due to Proven Performance Escalators, which rewards second to seventh-round picks for playing a significant amount of playing time, he is set to earn a $3.406 million base salary and a $3.454 million cap hit in 2025. Finally, since he completed his third regular season, he is eligible to sign an extension this offseason, per Article 7, Section 3 (k) (i) of the CBA.
Buffalo Bills secure standout defender to monster contract
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bills and Christian Benford have agreed to a monster contract extension. As Schefter points out, the deal is for four years and is worth $76 million. His $19 million APY ties him for the 13th-highest-paid cornerback.
Another Buffalo extension: Bills and Christian Benford reached agreement on a four-year, $76 million extension, per @HadleyEngelhard and Jim Ulrich @EnterSportsMgmt.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 29, 2025
Here’s a look at the other players the Bills extended this offseason
- Josh Allen: 6 years, $330 million
- Greg Rousseau: 4 years, $80 million
- Khalil Shakir: 4 years, $53 million
- Terrel Bernard: 4 years, $50 million
Also Read: Buffalo Bills: Lock Up Star Defender to a Big Contract in 2025, Buffalo Bills: Lock Up Key Defensive Star to Massive Contract
