Christian Benford appreciation thread

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

On 9/16/2024 at 4:02 PM, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

I do too. The issue is that Draft Class has so many Post Round 1 hits, are we going to be able to extend them all?

 

Benford may or may not be Priority 1. All these players were Drafted in the same class and all their contracts come due at the same time. And they're all going to be pricey.

 

James Cook

Terrel Bernard

Khalil Shakir

Christian Benford

Beane doesn’t get enough credit. This class was a slam dunk. Cook is likely an All-Pro if he can keep up the pace and I see no reason why he can’t. Bernard has been bit by the injury bug, but is a pro bowler when healthy. Shakir could be the leading receiver this year. Benford has been in the upper half of starting CBs, but this year could be a break out one. Buffalo is suprisingly deep at CB. 

[GASabresIUFan]

A little off topic, but who are Beane's top 10 draft picks overall and top 5 value picks?

 

1. Allen

2. T Johnson

3. Benford

4. Teller (2 - AP, 3 - PB)

5. Cook

6. Rousseau

7. Oliver

8. Brown

9. Bernard

10. Edmunds

 

Top 5 Value

1. T Johnson

2. Benford

3. Teller

4. Davis

5. Shakir

 

Up and comers - Shakir, Kincaid, Cook, Bernard, Williams, Spector, Coleman, Bishop, SVPG, Torrence.

Edited September 21 by GASabresIUFan
When I looked at the list I had Cook way too low.

[Don Otreply]

On 9/16/2024 at 4:01 PM, djp14150 said:

Tre is not 100% from injury. 

Sadly he likely won’t ever be back to 100%

[HardyBoy]

2 hours ago, Roundybout said:

 

 

What a stud. A random sixth rounder from Villanova of all places is locking down Hill, Harrison and Waddle. Hope we give him a good deal. 
 

Given what we gave up for him in relation to what we received, I’m comfortable saying he’s the best pick of the Beane tenure.

Here’s to hoping the best value pick of Beane’s drafts so far is Rousseau…getting what might be an elite top 5 pass rusher at the end of the first round is insane and has a legit chance of being the case. 
 

Not diminishing how amazing the CB pick was by any means. 

Edited September 20 by HardyBoy

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

3 hours ago, Roundybout said:

Im saying consider where we got him in exchange for what we’re getting. Guy is arguably CB1b. To me, that makes him Beane’s best pick. 

How about Milano being the best off ball LBer in the league? What was he a 5th round pick. T. Johnson same deal all pro slot corner. Then you got the QB. Was the obvious answer but I figured I’d start with the value. We also drafted 2 long term Tackles in spots you don’t usually get them. The guy has done a great job building this team 

[3rdand12]

so,

we are pleased ?

[nikuman]

11 hours ago, Captain Caveman said:

Just bumping this because I hope everyone here reads it. A great article about what seems like a terrific young man. 

Just read that article and, damn, I see him in a completely new light. I’m really rooting for this kid. 

[Buffalo716]

7 hours ago, GASabresIUFan said:

A little off topic, but who are Beane's top 10 draft picks overall and top 5 value picks?

 

1. Allen

2. T Johnson

3. Benford

4. Teller (2 - AP, 3 - PB)

5. Oliver

6. Rousseau

7. Brown

8. Bernard

9. Cook

10. Edmunds

 

Top 5 Value

1. T Johnson

2. Benford

3. Teller

4. Davis

5. Shakir

 

Up and comers - Shakir, Kincaid, Cook, Bernard, Williams, Spector, Coleman, Bishop, SVPG, Torrence.

That is way too high for teller

 

He was not the same player in Buffalo that he is in Cleveland after getting a fire struck under his ass and going to a better scheme fit

 

He was not playing at that level with the bills and got beat out by journeyman's.. he was not Head and shoulder above journeyman's who were more steady 

 

He had a fire lit under his ass and improved while going to a better scheme fit.. that does not mean you would be a two-time All pro with the bills

[Saxum]

9 hours ago, Roundybout said:

 

 

What a stud. A random sixth rounder from Villanova of all places is locking down Hill, Harrison and Waddle. Hope we give him a good deal. 
 

Given what we gave up for him in relation to what we received, I’m comfortable saying he’s the best pick of the Beane tenure.

 

All places?

 

Villanova has had 88 players drafted by NFL and one undrafted. 

One coach from Villanova, John Thomas Sandusky Jr., who coached from 1959-1994 after playing in NFL for 7 years.including payoffs for 7 games / 6 years.

 

 

[nedboy7]

4 hours ago, 3rdand12 said:

so,

we are pleased ?

 

Never.

[QB Bills]

13 hours ago, GASabresIUFan said:

A little off topic, but who are Beane's top 10 draft picks overall and top 5 value picks?

 

1. Allen

2. T Johnson

3. Benford

4. Teller (2 - AP, 3 - PB)

5. Oliver

6. Rousseau

7. Brown

8. Bernard

9. Cook

10. Edmunds

 

Top 5 Value

1. T Johnson

2. Benford

3. Teller

4. Davis

5. Shakir

 

Up and comers - Shakir, Kincaid, Cook, Bernard, Williams, Spector, Coleman, Bishop, SVPG, Torrence.

Outside of Allen, I'd rather have Doug Whaley than Beane on draft day. Flame away but don't let facts get in the way.

[GASabresIUFan]

8 hours ago, QB Bills said:

Outside of Allen, I'd rather have Doug Whaley than Beane on draft day. Flame away but don't let facts get in the way.

I think you are basing your opinion on one draft where he got White, Dawkins and Milano.  No one questions whether that was a great draft.  The rest of his picks are pretty Meh!  The 2014 draft was poor pick of Watkins, a few years of Preston Brown and then nothing.  2015 is journeyman Darby and pretty much nothing else.  2016 is Shaq Lawson and no one else.  That leaves all of Whaley accolades from one great draft.  Otherwise, no All-pro or pro bowlers from any other picks.   Also Whaley's 2nd and 3rd rd picks were mostly bad.  Whaley gave us greats like Cyrus Kouandjio, Reggie Ragland (who never played for the Bills), Adolphus Washington.  His best day 2 picks were two mediocre players in G John Miller and LB Preston Brown.  Besides Milano, which late rd Whaley pick made an impact on the Bills? None!

 

By the time things are said and done Beane's 2022 draft will be considering vastly superior to Whaley's 2017 draft.  The Bills currently have 4 starters from that draft in Benford, Bernard, Cook and Shakir.  Now add Kincaid, Torrence and D Williams for 2023, Rousseau and Brown from 2021.  Beane also added Oliver and Knox in 2019 and Allen, Edmunds, Teller and T Johnson in 2018.  Harrison Phillips, also from 2018 has blossomed in Minn.  Hard to call Moss and Singletary busts as they are starting running backs in the NFL this season.  They just weren't an ideal fit here, but doesn't mean they were bad picks.  In the late rounds Beane added starters T Johnson, Davis, Benford, Bass and Shakir, and good depth players Neal, Hamlin and Dane Jackson.  Sorry, Beane wins this debate easily even with busts like Ford, Elam and Basham. 

Edited September 21 by GASabresIUFan

[Shaw66]

I don't know if anyone has posted the link to Graham's article in the Athletic on Thursday.   https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5699837/2024/09/19/christian-benford-bills-face-tattoo/

 

I didn't know anything about Benford.  He grew up in the neighborhood that was the locale for The Wire.  His childhood was full of murder, violence, hunger, and drugs.  His parents, who didn't live together, in their separate ways got him into football and kept him there.  It saved his life.  

 

Turns out he and Elam connected after they were drafted, and they work together a lot. They are constantly pumping each other up. 

 

Amazing story. 

[GASabresIUFan]

3 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

I don't know if anyone has posted the link to Graham's article in the Athletic on Thursday.   https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5699837/2024/09/19/christian-benford-bills-face-tattoo/

 

I didn't know anything about Benford.  He grew up in the neighborhood that was the locale for The Wire.  His childhood was full of murder, violence, hunger, and drugs.  His parents, who didn't live together, in their separate ways got him into football and kept him there.  It saved his life.  

 

Turns out he and Elam connected after they were drafted, and they work together a lot. They are constantly pumping each other up. 

 

Amazing story. 

Now if he can just get Elam to raise his game.

[GASabresIUFan]

@Shaw66  Just read the story.  Amazing!  Give Benford the C. 

 

 

 

[nedboy7]

2 hours ago, GASabresIUFan said:

Now if he can just get Elam to raise his game.

 

That is not impressive enough.  What about the deli guy from Wegmans. 

[No_Matter_What]

Just found an interesting opinion on his future contract on Sportrac. Two things worth noticing - they are projecting him to potentially massive extension, but at the same time, they are saying that his 6th round pick status might in fact lower the numbers.

 

https://www.spotrac.com/news/_/id/2476/5-looming-nfl-extension-candidates

 

Christian Benford (CB, Bills)

One of the best kept defensive secrets in football, Benford is in the midst of putting together two of the better back-to-back seasons among active cornerbacks. The former 6th round pick is playing out his third season in Buffalo, making him extension-eligible for the first time after 2024.

Mathematically speaking, Benford (4 years, $98M projection) now joins Trent McDuffie, Derek Stingley Jr, & Sauce Gardner as cornerbacks who could reset this market in the coming months. Though it should be said: 6th round picks rarely swim with the big fish when it comes to rookie contract extensions. Don’t be surprised if Benford’s deal pales in comparison to these 1st rounders when it’s all said and done.

[NewEra]

On 9/20/2024 at 10:00 AM, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

Beane doesn’t get enough credit. This class was a slam dunk. Cook is likely an All-Pro if he can keep up the pace and I see no reason why he can’t. Bernard has been bit by the injury bug, but is a pro bowler when healthy. Shakir could be the leading receiver this year. Benford has been in the upper half of starting CBs, but this year could be a break out one. Buffalo is suprisingly deep at CB. 

Other than Elam-  it’s a great class for sure

[SoonerBillsFan]

I would put Benford on Wilson all night. But I doubt we are willing to move our CB's around vs keeping them on one side.

[ChasBB]

On 9/16/2024 at 3:23 PM, RichStadiumGuy said:

And is that Ronald Darby's name I see down there? This guy is still playing professional football?

... and still drawing dumb penalties.