The Buffalo Bills got some much-needed help at cornerback on Tuesday, acquiring veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas from the Green Bay Packers just before the trade deadline.
The Packers will send Douglas and a 2024 fifth-round pick to the Bills in exchange for a 2024 third-round pick. The news was first reported by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
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Douglas' arrival will help shore up a Bills secondary that has struggled after losing Tre'Davious White to a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 4.
Over the last four weeks, the Bills defense has allowed 0.203 expected points added (EPA) per pass play, 27th among the league's 32 teams, with their cornerbacks allowing a league-worst 79.4% completion rate on throws into their coverage.
Christian Benford and Kaiir Elam have particularly struggled, combining to allow 30 catches for 385 yards, one touchdown and 15 first downs across 42 targets in coverage since Week 1. Quarterbacks have netted a 107.7 passer rating on throws into their coverage, with the completions going for 12.8 yards on average.
Benford's 66.6 coverage grade may keep him inside the top 50 qualifying cornerbacks, but only just, as he comes in at 45th among 126 qualifiers at the position. Elam isn't so lucky, as his 61.3 grade puts him 72nd among that same group of players.
Douglas will bring much-needed experience to the group at just the right time, as the seventh-year pro is on pace for a career year through eight weeks of the campaign. He's been targeted 34 times in coverage, but he's allowed just 23 receptions for 274 yards, adding five pass breakups and one interception.
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