Raiders Acquire CB Taron Johnson from Bills
The Las Vegas Raiders are acquiring veteran cornerback Taron Johnson from the Buffalo Bills. The trade, made for a swap of late-round draft picks, came shortly after the Bills had initially announced Johnson's release, providing a swift upgrade to the Raiders' defense.
The acquisition of Taron Johnson provides the Las Vegas Raiders with a veteran slot cornerback, a position of need, as the team's passing defense ranked 16th in the NFL in 2025, allowing 211 passing yards per game. The Raiders' defense struggled in key situations, ranking 17th in red zone touchdown percentage allowed (57.81%) and 29th in opponent completion percentage (68.51%). Johnson is under contract for the next two seasons and will have an $8.67 million cap hit for the Raiders in 2026. The trade was a swap of late-round draft picks, with the Raiders sending a sixth-round pick to the Bills in exchange for Johnson and a seventh-round selection. The Buffalo Bills' decision to trade Johnson was influenced by a shift in their defensive scheme under a new coordinator, which is expected to utilize a nickel cornerback less frequently. The trade itself provides minimal salary cap relief for the Bills, saving them $1.9 million. Johnson, a 2018 fourth-round draft pick, was a second-team All-Pro in 2023. However, his performance has seen a decline in the past two seasons. In 2025, he was limited to 13 games due to a groin injury and recorded 57 tackles and four pass deflections. During the 2025 season, opposing quarterbacks had a passer rating of 100.4 when targeting Johnson. He allowed 32 receptions on 49 targets for 356 yards. For the Raiders, the move addresses a clear need in their secondary. In 2025, cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly, for instance, allowed 559 receiving yards on 37 catches. Johnson brings 113 games of NFL experience to a cornerback group that was lacking in veteran presence.
