The Buffalo Bills announced that slot CB Taron Johnson signed a 3-year $24-million contract extension. His deal includes $14-million in guarantees and keeps him with the team through the 2024 season. Johnson was set to be a free agent this offseason when his rookie contract finished. The Buffalo Bills prevented that by making Taron Johnson one of the top paid players at his position.
Buffalo drafted Johnson out of Weber State in the 4th round of the 2018 draft. He claimed the starting slot job early in his rookie season and has held the job ever since. Johnson has consistently been one of the best slot corners in the league throughout his young career.
He became a fan favorite in the back half of the 2020 season when he returned an interception for touchdown to jumpstart the Bills victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Johnson then had a 101-yard pick-six to seal the Bills’ victory over the Baltimore Ravens in the 2020 divisional round.
He ranks 3rd on the team in tackles and 2nd in passes defensed since the start of last season. Johnson has played 74% of defensive snaps for the Bills so far this season. His PFF slot coverage grade this season is 77.7 which ranks 5th in the league among qualified defenders.
This extension continues a Bills trend of locking up their home grown talent with Matt Milano and Josh Allen also signing extensions this year. Fellow 2018 draft picks Tremaine Edmunds and Siran Neal could be the next Bills to receive extensions over the coming months and offseason.
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