In the year that he was gone, Tre’Davious White kept an eye on the Buffalo Bills. The veteran cornerback naturally watched then-third-year corner Christian Benford.
While some saw a lot of development from Benford, White, who witnessed his behind-the-scenes work starting as rookie, downplayed any Year 3 leap from Benford. But it wasn’t meant to be dismissive.
“His game is still the same. Still the same,” White mused in July. “Only thing now is everyone is paying attention. The people here already knew and already saw when he got drafted in 2022 from the first start, we saw what it was.”
White rattles off the signs that Benford was going to be good from the jump: his consistency, his approach, his technical soundness.
“You could see why he’s one of the best corners in the league,” White said. “And this guy, he has a knack for the ball, and he’s going to have a great season.”
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Bills defensive back Christian Benford, left, lines up on Giants receiver Zach Pascal on Aug. 9. Benford’s play is starting to gain national attention. Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
‘One of the premier cornerbacks’
Benford currently is dealing with an unspecified injury that sidelined him for Wednesday’s practice. He did work to the side with strength staff, a positive sign.
When he returns, Benford will be a critical part of the Bills’ defense as he heads into Year 4. With that in mind, the Bills gave him a four-year, $69 million contract extension in March. Now, as the Bills work through other injuries at the position, Benford’s availability is even more notable.
His teammates are full of high praise for his game.
“Christian Benford, obviously, I think, is one of the premier cornerbacks in the league and doesn’t get talked about enough, but I think he likes it that way,” quarterback Josh Allen said.
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“I think he is the best corner in the NFL,” Bills nickel cornerback Taron Johnson said.
Though White says now everyone is paying attention to Benford’s game, it might still be to early to declare that true. In rankings from national outlets, Benford still often is low on the list, if mentioned at all.
Does it bother him? Only for a quick moment.
“That’s me saying I’m going to let another man dictate how I feel,” Benford said. “I’m a man of God. … So, I don’t tune into what other people’s judgments or feelings are.”
It’s different for every athlete. Some want the motivation from the naysayers. Some tune it all out – good and bad. Benford is closer to the latter. He doesn’t want negative energy around him.
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“If it’s so-so, I’m not even going to entertain it,” Benford said.
His goals for this season involve his teammates and raising their level.
“To be just an impactful player,” Benford said. “On and off the field. And make an impact somehow, some way to the game, to the players around me.”
Benford believes he will see that impact both in the final score and in the way his teammates carry themselves.
“Game-changing plays, character-changing when a player, say they’re down, it’s messing with their game, their game is changing,” Benford said.
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He wants to be there to uplift his teammates.
“Spreading the love, that’s where it shows,” he said.
Building trust
The Bills’ defensive backs are close-knit, and the group often has its own huddle at the end of practice.
A few weeks ago, defensive coordinator Bobby Babich started to notice something.
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“When they break down the group,” Babich said, “It’s C.B. that breaks it down. So, I’ve gone over there and started to listen, so it’s pretty cool to see his evolution.
“He is going to do his job on the field. That’s the way he goes about it. He’s not going to be real boisterous. He’s going to be locked in, and he’s going to do ... his job, and he knows what his job is.”
Babich, who watches other players’ and coaches’ press conferences, has seen Benford open up in more ways than one. For the team, it means Benford is putting helping others above his own comfort level.
“It’s been cool to see him step out of the quiet nature that we know he has, and to stress himself in that way,” Babich said. “He’s a joy. He’s a joy to coach. You talk about smart, smart, smart, smart, tough, all those type of things – an absolute joy.”
Even if naturally reserved, Benford knows that if he is vulnerable with his teammates, it can translate to their play on the field. And it’s also bigger than the game.
“Because it builds a bond, it builds a partnership,” Benford said. “If you express yourself to somebody, you’re bound to become closer to them, because you just gave them a piece of yourself that a lot of people don’t know. So, then there’s trust built. Now, I trust you with this information I’m putting onto you.
“Then there’s a sense of dropping my shoulders, because you are kind of helping me with my burden. So then, there’s love there.”
Benford Storytime
Bills cornerback Christian Benford greets children after reading his book “Stylish Safari: The Adventures of Being You” during a storytime event held Monday at the Crane Branch Library. Joshua Bessex, Buffalo News
Community impact
Benford’s determination to make an impact isn’t limited to game days. Through his newfound 47 Hearts Foundation, Benford is finding different avenues to give back.
On Monday, Benford hosted two community events. The first, at the Crane Branch Library, was a reading of his own book that he debuted this year, “Stylish Safari.” After, he stayed to sign copies – and all sorts of other Bills gear – and meet with kids as they filed through the shelves of books.
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Deeply religious, Benford finds reading in front of others to bring a new joy.
“It’s a blessing, honestly, because the main reason I wrote this book was the impact, to spread the word of God and then make a difference,” Benford said. “God would say, Be the light in this world, be the salt in this world.’ So, seeing that, just that’s more important than writing the book.”
The second event, at The Miss Parker Academy, was a back-to-school celebration, where Benford helped 50 students get ready for the year by doling out backpacks full of supplies and providing a meal.
“It was awesome, minus some of the bags were really heavier than I thought, to be honest,” Benford said. “But it was awesome.”
But Benford is used to heavy loads. And over and over, he keeps delivering.
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