Buffalo Rumblings
Early accolades have the late-round rookie in the spotlight very early during his NFL career.
Buffalo Bills rookie cornerback Dorian Strong, a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Virginia Tech, has the potential to follow in the footsteps of the team’s previous late-round defensive gems. Christian Benford (Round 6), Dane Jackson (Round 7), and Levi Wallace (UDFA) have each thrived in Buffalo’s defensive system, becoming key contributors despite their modest draft pedigrees.
Strong’s schematic fit, parallels to his predecessors, and impressive start at 2025 Bills rookie minicamp position him as a candidate to replicate their success. He’s a young man with good size and great collegiate production who’s already impressed, showing potential as a great fit for what the Bills’ defense likes to do.
Strong finds himself contributing heavily, perhaps way earlier than expected, even beating first-round cornerback Maxwell Hairston in the process. We’ve seen it already, and it could happen again. Can Strong emerge as the next Christian Benford, though?
Dorian Strong’s college career at Virginia Tech provides a compelling case for his potential. Over the course of 53 games, he recorded 110 tackles, seven interceptions, and 27 pass deflections — a testament to his consistent play-making ability despite being heavily avoided by opposing quarterbacks. Strong’s 2023 and 2024 seasons, where he started all 25 games, showcased durability and growth after a 2022 injury.
His interception total and pass deflections highlight his ball skills, while his tackle numbers reflect a willingness to engage in run support — a critical trait for Bills cornerbacks under head coach Sean McDermott.
Comparatively, Christian Benford’s college stats at Villanova included 137 tackles, 14 interceptions, and 47 pass deflections over 36 games. While Benford’s per-game production was slightly higher, Strong’s numbers are impressive for a player who faced ACC competition, often against stronger passing attacks than Benford saw in the FCS-level Colonial Athletic Association.
Dane Jackson (Pittsburgh) and Levi Wallace (Alabama) also posted solid-but-not-spectacular college stats, with Jackson recording 147 tackles and four interceptions over 47 games and Wallace totaling 94 tackles and five interceptions over 39 games. Like Strong, all three relied on instincts and technique rather than elite athleticism — a trait that translates well to Buffalo’s scheme.
Strong’s college tape reveals a quick, instinctive player with a competitive edge, though he lacks ideal foot speed or twitch. This mirrors Benford, who was lauded for his high football IQ and zone-coverage proficiency despite modest athletic measurables. Strong’s ability to read quarterbacks and break on passes aligns with the skills that allowed Benford, Jackson, and Wallace to exceed expectations as late-round picks.
Buffalo’s defensive system, McDermott’s zone-heavy scheme, emphasizes discipline, awareness, and tackling — qualities where Strong excels. Buffalo typically deploys a Cover 3 or Cover 4 base, requiring cornerbacks to maintain leverage, read routes, and limit yards after the catch.
Strong’s experience playing various coverages at Virginia Tech, as...
