Sean McDermott, the Buffalo Bills’ head coach, has welcomed former All-Pro cornerback Tre’Davious White back with open arms. The fan favorite inked a one-year, $3 million contract in mid-April to return to the roster ahead of the recently completed 2025 NFL draft. White played his first seven professional seasons in Buffalo before being released by the Bills in March 2024. He signed with the Los Angeles Rams in free agency before being traded to the Baltimore Ravens prior to last year’s trade deadline. He’s back at 1 Bills Drive.
“Tre was and will always be an all-time favorite of mine,” McDermott told Buffalo News reporter Ryan O’Halloran on Thursday.
“As a player and on the field [last year], when he got to Los Angeles and I watched him play, it wasn’t his greatest ball. It wasn’t the Tre White we knew. And then he went to Baltimore, and we noticed an improvement in his play and ability to move.” White is no longer one of the league’s top cornerbacks. A torn ACL in 2021 and a ruptured Achilles in 2023 eroded most of his athletic ability. Nonetheless, his extensive familiarity of the Bills’ defensive strategy may allow him to have a larger-than-expected effect in 2025.
Sean McDermott and Tre’Davious White reunited, with White commenting on his return to Buffalo.
The 30-year-old Louisiana native says he made it plain during meetings with his representatives
that I’ve grown with, went through so much adversity with, seen me injured, come back, injured again. So having that opportunity is something that I can’t pass up. Me walking through the door yesterday, it just seemed like I never left. I just feel in place, I feel home. So for that, I’m forever grateful and I’m so thankful to be back for sure.”
Star Cornerback’s Track Record
Here’s a look at some of the accolades White accumulated during his original stay roaming the Bills defense:
2017: Second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting
2019: Pro Bowl, First Team All-Pro, fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting
2020: Pro Bowl, Second Team All-Pro
The LSU product was putting together another strong season in 2021. He’d tallied 41 total tackles, six passes defended, an interception, and a forced fumble in 11 games before suffering the torn ACL. White didn’t return until late in the 2022 season. He then suffered a torn Achilles tendon just four appearances into the 2023 campaign.
As McDermott noted, White improved his appearance while with the Ravens. However, he was still far from peak shape. His aggregate Pro Football Focus grade of 52.9 accurately reflects his dismal performance last season.
The Bills hope that his expertise in their defensive system, which relies heavily on less physically demanding zone coverages, will help to compensate for some of his athletic weaknesses.
Where White Fits in the 2025 Bills Defense.
The Bills took a straightforward approach to refreshing their cornerback room. Christian Benford and Taron Johnson will resume their customary duties on the perimeter and in the slot, respectively. McDermott and company will let the No. 2 cornerback position develop during training camp.
Buffalo will hope that first-round pick Maxwell Hairston accepts the position and never looks back. It did, however, sign White and fellow returning player Dane Jackson as insurance policies. Both players are well-versed in the concept and can step in at a moment’s notice.
If the coaching staff determines that Hairston requires more development time, White should be the next man up. Even if that’s the case, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more rotation at the position to protect the veteran from facing off against a burner.
Another possibility to consider is White’s escape to safety.
The Bills are now looking at a wide-open race for the two starting safety positions. Cole Bishop, Taylor Rapp, and Damar Hamlin are the leading candidates. Darrick Forrest and dynamic rookie Jordan Hancock are also possible contenders.
White has never played safety in the NFL, so making the transition now seems unlikely. However, it cannot be fully ruled out, especially if the safety group’s early camp results indicate that it will be as much of a concern for the Bills defense this season as it was in 2024.
A position shift could be the one option to extend his career a few extra years, too.
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