Buffalo GM Brandon Beane swung a trade up with Denver in the second round to select cornerback Davison Igbinosun at No. 62 overall.
The new Bill is 6-foot-2, plays with his hands, and was the most physical perimeter corner in the Big Ten — the body type and style Buffalo’s defensive scheme is built on, for outside leverage and press-man.
Igbinosun arrived at One Bills Drive on Saturday, calling it “a dream”.
“Right now, this moment, I feel like I’m living a dream,” he said. “I’m sitting up here getting interviewed by a bunch of media personnel. I feel like I’m in a video game right now, seriously. I’m just blessed.”
The rookie also noted he’s ready to come in and play.
“My mindset is to be the best cornerback in the NFL, so I’m coming here to compete.”
While last year’s first-round pick, fellow corner Maxwell Hairston, has the speed and talent to be a CB1, his injury history raises concern, and IGB can be a next man up when needed, in addition to adding a strong rotation player along with Hairston and Dorian Strong.
On the depth chart, Christian Benford, Hairston, and Strong project a good group. Behind them, things are shaky depth-wise, and addressing that in a cap-friendly way to field this group over time successfully is key.
Igbinosun doesn’t just address depth but fits the scheme for outside leverage, press, and hands at the line. IGB has three full seasons of Big Ten starts (43 games, 27 PBUs, 4 INTs, Second-Team All-Big Ten) under his belt as well. He also competed against Marvin Harrison Jr. in practice every day at Ohio State.
“It prepared me completely to be in an environment like the NFL. A place like Ohio State, you’re recruiting five-star after five-star every year, so your job is on the line every practice,” he added. “That was the whole point of me going to Ohio State. I wanted to go to Ohio State, at that time they had Marvin up here. He was the best receiver in college football. Why would I not go against Marvin every single day, like if I’m having a good day or a bad day, still got to line up against him. Iron sharpens iron as another man sharpens another man.”
His high penalty number was the part of his scouting report that may have caused him to slide down a bit. Sixteen flags in 2024 is an issue, but his response and adjustment were significant. Igbinosun went back to the tape, saw he was in phase on most of those reps and needed to relax and play the ball, then cut it to only four coverage penalties in 2025 in a Power Four conference.
He noted the way his upbringing informed the mindset that drives that development.
“Growing up in New Jersey, you got to be tough, and me growing up in New Jersey has allowed me to just be here and be in this moment, and just has prepared me for a competitive environment like the NFL.”
Beane flew to Ohio State’s pro day specifically to stress-test him outside of his press-man comfort zone, saying, “he passed”. The GM then traded up to get him after trading back a couple times in and then another out of the first, didn’t reach, and in the first 62 picks with a three-down edge rusher (T.J. Parker) and a press corner in IGB.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Bills’ Davison Igbinosun sets lofty NFL goals
Reporting by David Benjamin De Cristofaro, Bills Wire / Bills Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
