Las Vegas Raiders Acquire Taron Johnson
The Las Vegas Raiders are set to bring Taron Johnson, a cornerback from the Buffalo Bills, into their roster, following a trade announcement on Sunday. According to a source familiar with the situation, who requested anonymity, the Raiders will send a sixth-round draft pick to the Bills while also receiving a seventh-round pick in the swap. This trade cannot be made official until the start of the NFL’s new league year on Wednesday.
Background on Taron Johnson
Just days before the trade, the Bills had indicated their intention to release Johnson alongside safety Taylor Rapp, wide receiver Curtis Samuel, and cornerback Dane Jackson as part of their effort to comply with salary cap regulations. However, before those cuts could take effect, the Bills found a viable trading option for the 29-year-old Johnson, who boasts a noteworthy eight-season tenure with Buffalo.
Recognized as one of the league’s elite nickel cornerbacks, Johnson’s playing prospects have recently made him a topic of discussion within the Bills organization, contemplating a transition to a starting safety position. Selected in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Weber State—which marked the beginning of the Bills’ general manager Brandon Beane’s first draft class—Johnson has two years remaining on a three-year contract extension he signed in 2024 after receiving a second-team All-Pro designation.
Impact on the Raiders
Since the 2020 season, Johnson has been integral to Buffalo’s defense, particularly in a three-cornerback setup. Among his noteworthy performances was a pivotal 101-yard interception return that clinched Buffalo’s 17-3 victory over the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional playoff round in 2020. Although his last season was hampered by a groin injury that limited him to 13 games, Johnson still accumulated six interceptions and 48 passes defended over his career.
In moving to the Raiders, Johnson will significantly strengthen a secondary that faced challenges last season. Kyu Blu Kelly’s performance was subpar, while rookie Darien Porter had an uneven debut in 10 starts. With Eric Stokes set to enter free agency, Johnson’s arrival comes as a promising reinforcement for Las Vegas’s defensive lineup.
