Bills Urged to Add $7 Million Cornerback to Boost Defense
The Buffalo Bills have been one of the best teams in the NFL at defending the pass this season, though they have struggled at times in getting opponents off the field.
One analyst believes the Bills can boost their success by adding some young talent to their secondary, targeting a New Orleans Saints cornerback who just earned a raise from his strong play.
Bills Add Another Trusted Cornerback in Trade Proposal
SI.com’s Matt Verderame suggested trades for all 32 NFL teams, pegging the Bills as contenders to land cornerback Alontae Taylor from the Saints. Verderame wrote that Taylor could help the Bills in turning around their performance on third downs, giving depth and addressing some question marks in the secondary.
“Buffalo has one of the league’s elite offenses, evidenced by its AFC-best 133 points,” Verderame wrote. Yet, the defense has been a problem, sitting 18th in EPA per play (0.016) and 25th on third down (42.0%), despite facing Justin Fields, Tua Tagovailoa and Spencer Rattler over the past three weeks. Trading for Taylor would bolster a secondary relying on the eventual return of rookie Maxwell Hairston and veteran Tre’Davious White.
Taylor is in the final season of his $7 million rookie contract and would be an affordable addition despite earning a pay raise through the NFL’s salary escalator. As reporter Katherine Terrell noted in a post on X, Taylor’s playing time and usage through his first three seasons gave him an automatic bump in salary.
“Alontae Taylor’s 2025 base salary has increased by $1.66 million due to the Proven Performance escalator, which gives 2nd-7th round picks pay raises in their fourth year based on cumulative play time,” Terrell wrote.
Bills Face Some Questions in the Secondary
Though the Bills have performed well against opposing offenses so far this season, the team has some uncertainty in the secondary. The team had the opportunity to open the practice window for first-round rookie Maxwell Hairston, who started the season on injured reserve, but they chose to keep him on IR as he continues to recover from a knee injury suffered in training camp.
SI.com writer Alex Brasky noted there is some uncertainty when he might be able to return, especially given that Hairston missed critical developmental time in training camp.
In Hairston’s absence, CB Tre’Davious White and Dorian Strong have served in the starting role opposite Christian Benford,” Brasky wrote. “But the duo, particularly White, has offered mixed results through three starts. During a Week 3 matchup against the Dolphins, White gave up a few critical receptions to Dolphins pass catchers, finishing the game allowing four receptions for 26 yards and a touchdown to Miami WR Jaylen Waddle, per NFL Pro.
The Bills benched White for stretches to give Strong playing time in last week’s win over the Saints, which head coach Sean McDermott said was not a reflection of White’s play but instead a desire to get the rookie more playing time. But that project hit a major snag this week when Strong was ruled out for this week’s game against the New England Patriots.
Giants Legend Makes Bold Statement: Is Justin Fields the QB They Need to Fear in 2025?
As the New York Giants gear up for the 2025 NFL season, all eyes are on their most significant matchups—and one quarterback, in particular, has caught the attention of Giants legend Carl Banks. The former linebacker, who made his mark on the Giants' defense during their Super Bowl victories, has had high praise and a word of caution regarding Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields.
Speaking on a recent episode of Bleav in Giants, Banks expressed his concern about Fields' rising potential and the impact he could have on the Giants' defense. "Fields is a playmaker," Banks stated. "He's not your traditional pocket passer. He can extend plays with his legs and make throws on the move. That's something we haven’t seen from a lot of young quarterbacks, and it's something we need to be prepared for."
Fields, who has had a rollercoaster start to his career in Chicago, is now entering his third season, and many experts, including Banks, believe he’s poised to take a major step forward. In 2024, Fields posted over 3,000 yards passing, added another 1,100 rushing yards, and demonstrated he can lead the Bears through the air and on the ground. With the right pieces around him, Fields could turn into the dual-threat quarterback the Bears have been craving for years.
As for the Giants, Banks believes their defense, which features the likes of defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence, linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux, and defensive tackle Leonard Williams, will need to step up in a big way to handle Fields’ unpredictable style of play. "It's going to be a tough battle," Banks continued. "The Giants have the tools on defense, but it all comes down to discipline. Fields can break a game open with a single run or a perfect deep ball."
While the Giants’ defense is undoubtedly strong, especially with their improvements on the defensive line, stopping a quarterback with Fields' unique skill set won’t be easy. The Giants will need to maintain their gap integrity, contain the pocket, and limit Fields' ability to break off big runs. It's no surprise that Banks is sounding the alarm early: "This guy can change a game at any moment. We need to make sure we don’t let him dictate the pace."
With a revamped roster and a stronger defensive line, the Giants are aiming for big things in 2025. But if they want to secure victories over teams like the Bears, containing Justin Fields could be the key to their success. It’s clear that this duel between two NFC powerhouses will be one of the most exciting matchups to watch in the upcoming season.
