Does this spell trouble for Hairston or are the Bills exercising caution?
The Buffalo Bills opened training camp Wednesday with a bit of competition at cornerback. Tre’Davious White, once the team’s star cornerback, is earning first-team reps at CB2 opposite Christian Benford (CB1), with Taron Johnson (NB) locking down the slot.
White’s presence in the starting lineup reveals that he’s in the mix to reclaim a starting role in the Bills’ secondary. His competition includes rookie cornerback Max Hairston, who the Bills selected in Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Hairston is considered a future building block at outside corner, but head coach Sean McDermott may want to ease the rookie into action. Hairston succeeds Buffalo’s former first-round pick, cornerback Kaiir Elam (2022), whose rookie campaign didn’t go according to plan.
Originally drafted by Buffalo in the first round in 2017, White quickly became one of the league’s top cornerbacks. Along the way, White has earned a First-Team All-Pro nod (2019), Second-Team All-Pro honors (2020), and has been selected to multiple Pro Bowls.
However, injuries derailed White’s momentum, with a torn ACL in 2021 and a torn Achilles in 2023 prematurely ending both seasons. After being released by Buffalo in 2024 and short stints with the Los Angeles Rams and Baltimore Ravens, White’s back with the Bills — aiming to stay healthy and bring veteran leadership to the cornerback room.
Whether White wins the CB2 job or provides veteran depth behind the young rookie, his comeback bid is one of this summer training camp’s most intriguing story lines.