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Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White at Highmark Stadium on December 17, 2022.
The Buffalo Bills overhauled their secondary this offseason, shifting to match the vision of new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard by parting ways with some longtime veterans like Tre’Davious White.
The team could now be working on some replacements, including a meeting with an intriguing cornerback prospect who has the potential to grow into an important piece for Leonhard’s defense.
Bills Looking Into Defensive Back Jarod Washington
As SI.com’s Alex Brasky noted, the Bills held a pre-draft meeting with South Carolina State cornerback Jarod Washington during his pro day. Brasky added that Washington is seen as a late-draft prospect, but could be a depth option for the Bills.
“Buffalo met with South Carolina State cornerback Jarod Washington during his pro day, according to Justin Melo of Draft OnSI, providing the team with a late-round or post-draft target to help provide additional pieces to a unit that is lacking capable options,” Brasky wrote.
“Washington will likely either be selected on Day 3 of the draft or a team will wait to see if he lands as an undrafted free agent. Bills OnSI previously wrote about Buffalo meeting with a few other cornerbacks before the draft, including Texas’ Malik Muhammad and LSU’s A.J. Haulcy.”
The Bills have found plenty of success with late-round defensive backs, including sixth-rounder Christian Benford and seventh-rounder Dane Jackson. They will need some replacements after parting ways with Jackson and Taron Johnson and allowing White to leave in free agency.
White was a mainstay of their defense last year, enjoying a bounce-back season after his athleticism was sapped by two major injuries over the course of three years while with the Bills.
The Bills could still bring back White, who expressed a strong desire to return to Buffalo after spending the 2024 season with the Los Angeles Rams and Baltimore Ravens. While the Bills already held their first offseason practices, they could add the veteran White at some point before training camp to allow him to compete for a roster spot.
Jarod Washington’s Stock Rising Fast
The Bills may need to strike early if they intend to land Washington, who has seen his draft stock rise rapidly after a strong season where he helped lead South Carolina State to an HBCU championship.
“I’m proud of what I showed NFL scouts at South Carolina State,” Washington told SI.com. “I went there as a walk-on prospect. I walked into the room and earned the respect of my teammates. I took advantage of an opportunity.
“We won the HBCU National Championship. Nobody can take that from us.”
Washington had some impressive stats last season, including 22 passes defensed. He credit his brother, a quarterback, with helping him develop his aggressive approach.
“I’m very competitive at the catch point. I grew up with a quarterback in the household,” he said with a laugh. “My big brother played quarterback. I’ve been around the passing game my whole life. I was raised to be a defensive back.
“I’m used to playing the ball in the air. I understand route concepts and how receivers want to attack the ball. I’ve always played on time and on schedule. The way I grew up gave me a big advantage in coverage.”
Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty
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