The Buffalo Bills successfully reached an agreement with starting cornerback on a four-year, $76 million extension, making him the 13th-highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. After four seasons as one of the league’s most underrated players, his new contract was well-earned.
General manager Brandon Beane played a key role in securing the deal despite limited cap space, but a major factor in making it possible was quarterback Josh Allen’s contract restructuring. Allen’s extension, which now pays him an average of $55 million per year, created the financial flexibility Buffalo needed to lock in Benford for the long term.
Allen acknowledged the strategic nature of his deal, explaining that he understood how restructuring his contract would help the team free up cap space. “I knew the impact of getting an extension done and creating some cap room,” Allen said. “It’s kind of a weird situation because I’ve had a big contract before, and it doesn’t really change how I live my life.
By adjusting his contract to give the Bills more cap flexibility, Allen has helped the team retain core players like Greg Rousseau and Terrel Bernard. Now, that approach has also ensured the return of their top shutdown cornerback.
