Who is the best Corner in Bills history?

[mushypeaches]

It’s tough to judge between the eras because QB play has improved so much that there aren’t the big play INT totals to measure.  So it’s more of a case of locking guys down and not giving up catches in man coverage

 

Anyhow, I’m 50 and Nate Odomes was the first great one that I saw play for the Bills.  I think he was a solid combination of shutdown and big plays

[MJS]

10 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

He was massively underrated here though 

 

People called him a bum consistently throughout his career but I always was clamoring that Gilmore was a All-Pro on a bad team 

 

One great corner doesn't make or break a team but he wasn't the reason we were bad.. I certainly did think he was a top corner even with the bills who got a bad rep

 

Like I'm not putting a rank on him one through five but he was a stud here.. he played with a club.. people used to question his toughness and he played with a broken hand lol

I agree he was a good corner here. But he seemed to always start slow and then pull it together toward the 2nd half of the season when he then played lights out. I do think he didn't like to tackle and he did have attitude issues sometimes, blaming other players and having bad body language (maybe a lot of that was justified, but you still don't like to see it).

 

His 2016 season here was really good. But then he left and his ascension continued elsewhere.

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

36 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

Terrence McGee was a pretty decent Corner and an elite Returner. But as a Corner, he wouldn't be that high up on the list.

McGee was just a playmaker period. Wherever you put him. He made a **** ton of huge plays on the defensive side of the ball too. He was a serviceable cover corner, but also underrated was his tackling ability. 2004 he had 98 tackles alone. 4 TFL, 2 Sacks, 3 picks, 3 FF. Add his value as a returner. Very very underrated player of the drought era. I remember buying one his hats. 

 

[MJS]

1 minute ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

McGee was just a playmaker period. Wherever you put him. He made a **** ton of huge plays on the defensive side of the ball too. He was a serviceable cover corner, but also underrated was his tackling ability. 2004 he had 98 tackles alone. 4 TFL, 2 Sacks, 3 picks, 3 FF. Add his value as a returner. Very very underrated player of the drought era. I remember buying one his hats. 

 

He was a great player. Too bad it all came during the drought. He'd be seen as a top 5 corner in the NFL today if he was on the current Bills, especially since he'd have other players around him that can play on defense.

Edited Tuesday at 08:54 PM by MJS

[Buffalo716]

14 minutes ago, MJS said:

I agree he was a good corner here. But he seemed to always start slow and then pull it together toward the 2nd half of the season when he then played lights out. I do think he didn't like to tackle and he did have attitude issues sometimes, blaming other players and having bad body language (maybe a lot of that was justified, but you still don't like to see it).

 

His 2016 season here was really good. But then he left and his ascension continued elsewhere.

 the not liking to tackle was also a little overblown... Like he was so physical his first couple of years he would have been out of the league after 5 if he didn't change his play style a little bit 

 

Like he was cracking tight ends and running backs his first couple years... He was playing hurt 

 

He had a collision with Eddie Lacy.. early in his career , mind you, Eddie Lacey was the biggest running back in the NFL at the time.. over 255

 

No corners back in the day we're taking him on head on.. and Gilmore full speed collided with Lacey so hard they both were slow to get up 

 

 he certainly lost that after that

Edited Tuesday at 09:08 PM by Buffalo716

[HOUSE]

Bobby James

[BillsFanForever19]

14 minutes ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

McGee was just a playmaker period. Wherever you put him. He made a **** ton of huge plays on the defensive side of the ball too. He was a serviceable cover corner, but also underrated was his tackling ability. 2004 he had 98 tackles alone. 4 TFL, 2 Sacks, 3 picks, 3 FF. Add his value as a returner. Very very underrated player of the drought era. I remember buying one his hats. 

 

 

Don't get me wrong, I was a big fan of McGee. But his 2nd team All Pro's and 2 Pro Bowls were as a Return Man. If this were for the Greatest Returner in Franchise History - he'd be my vote.

 

But OP was questioning if he tops Odomes as the Greatest CB in Franchise History. He was a good CB. But he's definitely the best in Franchise History as strictly a CB. Personally, I count the Return stuff as a separate category.

Edited Tuesday at 09:08 PM by BillsFanForever19

[Pete]

Derrick Burroughs was gonna be a good one 

[ShakAttack]

1 hour ago, billsbackto81 said:

Antoine Winfield

Tre White

Nate Odomes

Nate Clements

 

At least during my time actively watching since the late 80s 

I am surprised how many posts I had to go through before seeing Winfield’s name. I actually think Winfield was better than Clements too. 

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

30 minutes ago, MJS said:

He was a great player. Too bad it all came during the drought. He'd be seen as a top 5 corner in the NFL today if he was on the current Bills, especially since he'd have other players around him that can play on defense.

His value as a CB/KR was enormous. Buffalo lacks that game-breaker on any side of the ball (not named Josh Allen.) 

[Snappysnackcakes]

I never had the privilege of watching Byrd or James. Byrd is highly regarded as a CB, as was James. Of those I’ve witnessed, Derrick Burroughs was every bit as good as Odomes and his career was cut short due to a neck injury. If he hadn’t gotten hurt, our defense would’ve been even better. He was replaced by Kirby Jackson, who should’ve been relegated to a nickel role. Winfield is right there with Burroughs and Odomes and Winfield was one of my favorite players along with McGee. BTW, Belichick used to rave about McGee. That says a lot. 

[BlazinBill]

Nate Odomes

[Matt_In_NH]

2 hours ago, njbuff said:

Chris Watson

Punt catcher. My next jersey

Edited Tuesday at 10:03 PM by Matt_In_NH

[Utah John]

2 hours ago, Sierra Foothills said:

Butch Byrd, hands down.

 

p.s. - This should be a poll.

 

Byrd got interceptions, but he wasn't even the best CB on the team then.  That was Booker Edgerson, the shut-down corner of that era.  But all-time?  The best was Robert James.

[oldmanfan]

I posted my list earlier but wanted to comment on a few other guys people have mentioned.  

Butch Byrd was great; I got to hang out with him when my dad would red charity basketball games the Bills would play in the off-season.  Really great guy.  I always thought Booker was just a smidge better.  But both great players.

 

Winfield was mentioned and he was pretty good too.  Can certainly understand him being on some lists.  Derek Burroughs I thought was OK but not great.  A name I should have remembered was Charles Romes; a solid CB.  And Gilmore was good while wearing the Bills uni.

 

While I stick with Robert James, we have certainly have our share of really good corners.

[njbuff]

Derrick Burroughs was on his way after a rough start to his career in 1985.

 

A severe neck injury against Houston in week 3 of 1989 at the Dome ended a promising rest of his career.

[BillsPride12]

2 hours ago, uticaclub said:

Jabari Greer

Most underrated for sure

[Stenbar]

Elam😁

[Beast]

Robert James

[Buffalo716]

By pure metrics and production it has to be Butch Byrd