The Buffalo Bills drafted CB Davison Igbinosun, who was the second rookie the Bills selected. After numerous day 1 trades, Buffalo found themselves with a plethora of picks.
Player Summary
Blitz Sports Media NFL analyst Ryan Linkletter (@blitzlink_) had this to say about Davison Igbinosun during the draft process.
“Davison Igbinosun is a toolsy corner with elite length, explosive athleticism, and experience across multiple defensive systems. He has shown the ability to play press-man, off-man, and zone, giving coordinators flexibility in how they deploy him. His physical traits allow him to match up with bigger receivers and contest throws when he stays disciplined. The concerns are hip fluidity and consistent playmaking at the catch point, where he can lose the ball late or mistime contests. Penalties also show up due to grabbing and holding, though he has improved and reduced those issues over time. With continued technique refinement, he profiles as a Day 2 starter candidate, especially for zone-heavy defenses that value size and physicality.”
Igbinosun’s College Stats
Davison secured 4 INTs over the last two seasons and started in all 30 games during that span. The following statistics are available via Chad Reuter, NFL Draft Researcher/Analyst with NFL Media since 2011, as linked in Parker’s draft profile below.
- 2022 (Mississippi): Played in all 13 games with 10 starts (37 tackles, 5 PBUs).
- 2023: Honorable Mention All-Big Ten Conference. Played in all 13 games with 12 starts (59 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 5 PBUs).
- 2024: Honorable Mention All-Big Ten. Led team with 9 PBUs. Tied for the team lead with 2 INTs. Started all 16 games for the national champions (45 tackles, 2 TFLs, 2 INTs).
- 2025: Second-team All-Big Ten. Tied for the team lead with 2 INTs. Started all 14 games (53 tackles, 6 PBUs).
- Miscellaneous: Brother, Desmond, played safety at Rutgers.
NFL Combine
Igbinosun obtained a respectable 6.00 prospect grade. A total score of 74 places him 9th overall among CBs for their combine ranking. The Steelers’ third-round pick was Dylan Everette, who was 8th in total score, so it will be exciting to see how these two rookies compare throughout the season.
Current CB Room
Buffalo has one of the most underrated CBs in the league in Christian Benford and second-year player Maxwell Harrison, who showcased his talents last season despite having a few injuries. Buffalo let Taron Johnson walk, but did sign CB Dee Alford from the Atlanta Falcons to fill that role. Igbinosun will be competing with veteran Dee Alford, fellow rookie Pride Jr., second-year players Dorian Strong and Daryl Porter Jr., former seventh-round pick of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024, and lastly, Te’Cory Couch, an undrafted free agent following the 2024 draft.
Expectations
It’s fair to assume Davison beats out guys like Couch and Porter Jr., as they may be roster cuts come August. The real battle for Igbinosun is carving out a role while competing against Alford and Strong in camp.
Now the good news for him is that Strong was a sixth-round pick, and Dee Alford, despite signing for three years, is only guaranteed $10.1M, leaving Buffalo far from committed to either player, as the Bills have already invested more into Igbinosun being a second-round pick than they did the others.
My expectations are simple: he performs better than Strong in camp, but due to his severe history of drawing penalties throughout his college career, first-year Head Coach Joe Brady likely trusts C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Dee Alford to play Nickel. Igbinosun also played more outside in college, so even if they did trust him to stop drawing flags, he still needs time to develop.
I estimate that Davison Igbinosun will have 0 INTs, 4PD, and 11 tackles next season. An underwhelming year for a second-round pick, but if he shows flashes, then maybe Buffalo will be in a position to give him a larger role either later in the season or next season, as again, they aren’t committed to any player he’s competing against in the short term.
Recap
Buffalo found themselves a potential gem late in the second round by securing Davison Igbinosun. He’s better than most people would give him credit for, and if he cleans up the penalties, there’s no doubt in my mind that this kid can contribute to Buffalo.
Check out all of my previous articles alongside all future rookie deep dives, available here: Rookie Deep Dives, and make sure to use code DL10 for 10% off all memberships! Also, tune in on YouTube to view our most recent video, where we discuss the results of round 1.
