Buffalo Bills Release Nickel Cornerback Taron Johnson
The Buffalo Bills have released veteran nickel cornerback Taron Johnson, a move first reported by Jeremy Fowler. This action is expected to result in a saving of $8.76 million in available cash for the Bills during the 2026 NFL season.
The Buffalo Bills have released nickel cornerback Taron Johnson, a move expected to save the team $8.76 million in available cash for the 2026 NFL season.
Player Background and Career Performance
Johnson was originally drafted by Buffalo in the fourth round (121st overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft. He was a key component of the team’s defensive scheme, prominently featured in what became known as the “Buffalo Nickel” defense.
Over his career, Johnson played eight seasons and appeared in 117 regular-season games. During this tenure, he accumulated 572 tackles (411 solo), 23 tackles for loss, and 11 quarterback hits. His ball-hawking ability was evident with six interceptions (totaling 80 yards), two of which were returned for touchdowns. He also recorded 48 pass defenses, forced eight fumbles, recovered three fumbles, and added one fumble touchdown.
A particularly memorable moment in his career came during the 2020 playoffs when he secured a 101-yard touchdown after an interception against Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
In recent seasons, Johnson's availability and on-field performance were affected by injuries.