Who is Taron Johnson? Veteran cornerback released by Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills announced a series of roster moves on Friday (March 6), releasing veteran cornerback Taron Johnson along with safety Taylor Rapp, wide receiver Curtis Samuel and cornerback Dane Jackson. Johnson wrapped up his eighth season with Buffalo in 2025, appearing in 13 games and starting eight of them. During that campaign, he recorded 57 tackles, four passes defended and one tackle for loss. Over the course of his time with the Bills, Johnson established himself as one of the NFL’s most reliable nickel cornerbacks.

Across eight seasons in Buffalo, the veteran defensive back compiled an impressive statistical resume. He totaled 572 tackles, 48 passes defended, 23 tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits, eight forced fumbles, six interceptions and three fumble recoveries. His strong performance earned him second-team All-Pro honors in 2023, marking the peak of his career recognition.

Johnson also delivered one of the most memorable defensive plays in franchise history. In the 2020–21 playoffs, he intercepted a pass and returned it 101 yards for a touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens, a play that remains iconic for Bills fans.


Buffalo originally selected Johnson in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft with the 121st overall pick after he played college football at Weber State University. During his tenure with the team, he appeared in 113 games and made 87 starts.

The 29-year-old spent his entire NFL career in Buffalo. According to NBC Sports, Johnson is currently under contract through 2027 and was scheduled to earn a base salary of $8.1 million in 2026, along with a $150,000 workout bonus and $510,000 in per-game roster bonuses.