Who is the best Corner in Bills history?

[Don Otreply]

All I know is who ever that person is he is presently not on the team,

 

 

 

must be the off season…

[somnus00]

  On 4/8/2025 at 7:42 PM, njbuff said:

Chris Watson

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Ko Simpson was worth millions. He at least deserves a mention.

[Victory Formation]

I think that Nate Clements was the best CB in Bills history but Jabari Greer was the most underrated. Terrance McGee was exceptional as well and although Leodis McKelvin never lived up to his draft hype, he was still very good.

[njbuff]

When Thomas Smith was on, he might have been the best pure cover CB in Bills history, but he had hands of stone and that’s why there he gets very little mention.

[BearNorth]

So I took Pro football Reference, Approximate Value for a career, - I only picked players with 5 or more Buffalo seasons, and the top three CB's using that rubric are Butch Byrd [Career AV 11}, Robert James [Career AV 9], and Tre White [Career AV 8.9].  After that long drop off to the next 3, Nate Odomes, Mario Clark & Nate Clements. FWIW. - Deion is the highest graded NFL CB of all time, Career AV of 15.

[K-9]

  On 4/9/2025 at 11:35 PM, BearNorth said:

So I took Pro football Reference, Approximate Value for a career, - I only picked players with 5 or more Buffalo seasons, and the top three CB's using that rubric are Butch Byrd [Career AV 11}, Robert James [Career AV 9], and Tre White [Career AV 8.9].  After that long drop off to the next 3, Nate Odomes, Mario Clark & Nate Clements. FWIW. - Deion is the highest graded NFL CB of all time, Career AV of 15.

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I appreciate this list and I’m wondering what the criteria is for determining Approximate Value. How much do INTs contribute? 
 

I’m not surprised that Sanders would top the list. Of all the CBs I’ve seen in person, he is the best I’ve ever seen play the position. 

[Buffalo716]

  On 4/9/2025 at 11:54 PM, K-9 said:

I appreciate this list and I’m wondering what the criteria is for determining Approximate Value. How much do INTs contribute? 
 

I’m not surprised that Sanders would top the list. Of all the CBs I’ve seen in person, he is the best I’ve ever seen play the position. 

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Pro football reference AV 

 

Is a conglomeration  of your team's defensive scoring allowed per drive, while factoring in your defensive statistics contributions and accolades

 

[fergie's ire]

Kirby Jackson?

[buffblue]

Ellis Lankster

[Rico]

Once upon a time after the 2001 season, Chris Watson was considered a good player/prospect for the Bills…. then reality set in.

https://a.espncdn.com/nfl/columns/pasquarelli_len/1359038.html

[Sierra Foothills]

  On 4/9/2025 at 4:35 PM, oldmanfan said:

It’s always great to discuss these lists.  I have the advantage (some might say disadvantage) of being around since 1960. So I’d add a couple guys to your list:

 

S:  I’d add George Saimes, to me he was the best safety ever in a Bills uni.  I’d also mention Tony Greene and Henry James.

 

LB:  Mike Stratton deserves mention 

 

NT:  Ted Washington deserves mention

 

WR:  Jerry Butler was a great player; if he hadn’t suffered the injury he would have been an All-timer.  Eric Moulds also deserves mention

 

and Reuben Brown was a G, not a T.

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Henry Jones

 

  On 4/9/2025 at 4:39 PM, JP51 said:

oh dang I was really little when I watched him... I thought he was a corner... but thanks for the fix there... well... I'll just keep quiet maybe no one else will notice LOL... we shall see! 

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Tony Greene started as a corner but was moved to safety in maybe his 2nd or 3rd year.

 

Phenomenol athlete in the Darrell Green mold.

 

  On 4/9/2025 at 5:42 PM, Logic said:

It's kind of weird that the Bills have had multiple very good corners where the best parts of those corners' careers came when they weren't Buffalo Bills.

Stephon Gilmore
Nate Clements

Antoine Winfield

All very good. All had their best years after leaving the Bills.

We used to be the NFL's farm team. Letting rookies get their NFL seasoning for four or five years before watching them move on to relevant teams. Thank God those days are over.

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You think Clements' best years were after the Bills?

 

  On 4/9/2025 at 6:34 PM, NoName said:

I can only go back as far as the super bowl error:

1) Antoine Winfield

2) Tre White

3 or 4) Nate Clements

3 or 4) Gilmore

5) Thomas Smith

 

I cant rate Nate Odomes.  I don't recall his game enough.

 

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Love the Freudian slip.

 

[Dr.Sack]

Butch Byrd.

[BigDingus]

Stephon Gilmore

Nate Clements

Antoine Winfield

Tre White

Terrence McGee

Butch Byrd

Taron Johnson

Nate Odomes

 

All good names, but I'm going with Clements, if only for this - 

 

[Doc Brown]

  On 4/9/2025 at 8:20 PM, Don Otreply said:

All I know is who ever that person is he is presently not on the team,

 

 

 

must be the off season…

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We have stupid debates like this during the season too. 

[papazoid]

1- butch byrd

2- robert james

3- tre white

4- stephon gilmore

5- antoine winfield

6- nate odoms

7- nate clements

8- terrance mcgee

9- booker edgerson

10- thomas smith

11- taron johnson

12- charles romes

13- mario clark

14- derrick burroughs

15- leodis mckelvin

 

[RichRiderBills]

Antoine Winfield ....it's not even close. 

 

The notion Tre White is on this list is just silly. He had 1-2 good years. 

 

Didn't Henry Jones play some CB?

 

 

 

Edited April 10 by RichRiderBills

[TwoFlocksofFury]

All I've learned from this thread is that at 45 yrs old I'm not nearly as old as I thought I was. I recognize maybe half of these names

[oldmanfan]

  On 4/10/2025 at 4:12 AM, Sierra Foothills said:

 

Henry Jones

 

 

Tony Greene started as a corner but was moved to safety in maybe his 2nd or 3rd year.

 

Phenomenol athlete in the Darrell Green mold.

 

 

You think Clements' best years were after the Bills?

 

 

Love the Freudian slip.

 

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Thanks!  Had a senior moment there.

[JP51]

  On 4/10/2025 at 4:12 AM, Sierra Foothills said:

 

Henry Jones

 

 

Tony Greene started as a corner but was moved to safety in maybe his 2nd or 3rd year.

 

Phenomenol athlete in the Darrell Green mold.

 

 

You think Clements' best years were after the Bills?

 

 

Love the Freudian slip.

 

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Ok I feel at least a little better now that my memory wasnt playing tricks... I was pre 10 at that point... so I remember what I remember but sometimes its a bit skewed. 

[nucci]

Robert James