The Bills are set to sign cornerback DeAundre “Dee” Alford to a three-year free-agent deal worth up to $21 million —and a contract that includes $10 million guaranteed, as first reported by Jordan Schultz. Updated figures for Dee Alford’s free-agent cornerback deal with the Buffalo Bills revels that it’s a three-year, $15.75 million contract, with $10.12 million guaranteed, and $4.5 million as part of his signing bonus — as detailed in a report by Aaron Wilson.

Alford will be familiar to many within Bills Mafia circles for the game he put together against Buffalo last season. As part of a suffocating Atlanta Falcons defense in 2025, Alford played a key role in frustrating quarterback Josh Allen into costly mistakes last season.

Primarily viewed as a nickel/slot cornerback, the 5’11”, 180-pound Alford’s professional football career actually began with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL. Alford was with Winnipeg for the 2020 and 2021 CFL seasons, winning a Grey Cup Championship with them in 2021.

After his CFL stint, Alford headed for the NFL, joining the Atlanta Falcons by way of a reserve/future contract to begin 2022. In 2025, Alford signed a new, one-year deal to remain with the Falcons. Last season, Alford’s play shone bright under the primetime lights of Monday Night Football in a game where he intercepted Josh Allen once, claimed three pass defenses in coverage, while making six tackles (4 solo), one tackle for loss, one quarterback hit, and one sack during a 24-14 victory.

In four seasons and 64 regular-season games with Atlanta, Alford made 216 tackles (159 solo), 10 tackles for loss, one safety, five quarterback hits, 3.5 sacks, four interceptions, 37 pass defenses, two forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. (All stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference.)

With longtime “Buffalo Nickel” cornerback Taron Johnson heading to the Las Vegas Raider via trade (and with defensive back Cam Lewis a free agent), One Bills Drive had a need to fill at the position. Given Alford’s history at nickel cornerback, it’s fair to believe that will be his role in new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s system as a slot corner.