The Buffalo Bills have locked down another key piece of their defense, as cornerback Christian Benford has signed a lucrative contract extension. The 24-year-old, who was once an overlooked sixth-round pick out of Villanova, has rapidly developed into one of the league’s top cornerbacks—and now, he’s getting paid like one.
Benford joins Greg Rousseau, Terrel Bernard, and Khalil Shakir as part of Buffalo’s core group moving forward, all of whom have received contract extensions this offseason. With Josh Allen leading the charge on offense, the Bills are solidifying their defense to maintain their competitive edge in the AFC.
Christian Benford’s contract details
Team: Buffalo Bills
Years: 4
Value: $76 million
Benford’s new four-year, $76 million deal makes him one of the highest-paid players at his position, though it’s still considered a bargain given his performance. In 2024, he allowed the second-fewest yards per target among all outside cornerbacks, trailing only Houston’s Derek Stingley Jr.
Just a few years ago, Benford was playing at Villanova, a school better known for basketball than football. He wasn’t drafted until the sixth round, making his journey to becoming a top-tier NFL cornerback even more impressive.
Now, despite earning a top-12 contract at his position, Benford’s deal still falls short of recent market-setters like Stingley and Jaycee Horn. That could make this extension a smart move for the Bills, giving them a high-level defensive talent at a slightly lower cost than some of his peers.
This deal is not just a win for Benford but also a testament to Buffalo’s strong scouting department, led by general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott. They saw the potential in an under-the-radar player, and now he’s proving them right in a big way.
