The Buffalo Bills could add cornerback depth in the 2026 NFL Draft. Here are five prospects to watch, from outside options to slot fits.
The Buffalo Bills aren’t in a spot where cornerback is a glaring, must-fix need. But that doesn't mean it's completely settled.
They already invested in Maxwell Hairston last year, and with Christian Benford on the other side, there’s a foundation in place. The problem is, they still don’t fully know what they have in Hairston after injuries disrupted his rookie season.
That uncertainty, combined with the importance of depth in today’s NFL, makes corner a position worth watching. I just wouldn't expect to see it done early on. This feels like a late Day 2 or Day 3-heavy position for Buffalo, with a focus on value and specific roles, especially in the slot.
Here are five cornerback prospects who fit that approach in the 2026 NFL Draft.
1. Davison Igbinosun, Ohio State
Igbinosun is one of the more intriguing mid-round options in this class. A four-year player who improved each season, he developed into Ohio State’s top corner and showed he can handle top assignments.
What stands out immediately is his length and recovery ability. He’s not the quickest corner in terms of short-area burst, but his straight-line speed allows him to recover if he gets beaten early. Pair that with long arms, and he can close passing windows even when he’s slightly out of position.
Earlier in his career, he had issues with being too handsy, often grabbing when beaten. But he cleaned that up significantly, showing growth and maturity. He’s still aggressive, but it’s controlled now.
Projected somewhere in the third to fourth round, he feels like a realistic outside depth option who could develop into more.
2. Tacario Davis, Washington
If you’re looking for size, Davis has it.
At 6-foot-4 with long arms and legit speed (running in the 4.4 range), he’s built like a prototype boundary corner. He can press at the line, disrupt routes early, and is one of the better tackling corners in this class. When he hits, he finishes.
But there are concerns. Like Igbinosun earlier in his career, Davis can get overly handsy, leading to penalties. He also struggles more against smaller, twitchier receivers who can change direction quickly.
Still, for a fourth-round type of value, the size and physicality are hard to ignore. If the Bills want to add another outside option with traits, Davis fits.
3. Chandler Rivers, Duke
Rivers might be the most logical fit of the entire group.
At 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, he’s built to play inside, and that’s exactly where Buffalo may be looking. With the importance of nickel defenses, slot corners are no longer just luxury pieces.
Rivers excels against quick, twitchy receivers. His footwork, reaction time, and ability to close on plays stand out. Even if he gets beaten initially, his recovery ability, especially laterally, is among the best in this class.
He also reads screens well and reacts quickly, which is an underrated but critical trait in the modern-day NFL.
If the Bills are looking for a long-term slot option, potentially even a future replacement for Taron Johnson, Rivers makes a ton of sense in the mid-to-late rounds.
4. D'Angelo Ponds, Indiana
Ponds is one of the more polarizing prospects in this class.
At around 5-foot-9, he’s strictly a slot corner at the next level. There’s no projection to the outside, and that limits his versatility. But what he does bring is toughness, competitiveness, and effort.
He plays bigger than his size, has a relentless motor, and isn’t afraid to mix it up. The concern is value—he’s likely a Day 2 pick, and that’s a tough sell for a team like Buffalo that may not want to invest that kind of capital into a pure slot corner.
There’s a lot to like about the player. The question is whether the fit and draft value align.
5. Charles Demings, Stephen F. Austin
Demings is your classic late-round flyer.
Coming from a smaller program, he doesn’t have the same level of competition as others on this list, but the traits are there. At around 6-foot-1 with solid speed in the 4.4 range, he’s an athletic prospect who could develop with time.
This is the type of pick you make in the sixth round or later. There are no expectations beyond making the roster and contributing early on special teams.
But every year, players from smaller schools find their way. If Buffalo wants to take a low-risk swing on upside, Demings fits that mold.
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