The Las Vegas Raiders are hoping to turn one team’s garbage into on-field gold.
The Raiders have reportedly acquired cornerback Taron Johnson from the Buffalo Bills, who were planning to release him before Las Vegas approached them with a deal. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Raiders are swapping one of their sixth-round picks for a Bills seventh-round pick to get the deal done.
The Bills picked Johnson in the fourth round of the 2018 draft and groomed him into the team’s starting nickel cornerback. But with the team shifting to a new defense next season under defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, Johnson became expendable.
Johnson was one of Buffalo’s most productive tacklers, averaging 89.5 tackles each season from 2020-23. The Weber State alum earned a 2nd-team All-Pro nod in 2023. He spent less time on the field over the last two seasons due to injuries and a diminished role.
The Raiders’ trade for Johnson comes days after the Bills had already announced plans to release the 29-year-old defensive back. He was among four players Buffalo planned to release to save cap space.