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Taron Johnson

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Not to be confused with Darin Johnson.

Taron Johnson
refer to caption
Johnson in 2021
No. 7 – Buffalo Bills
Position:Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1996-07-27) July 27, 1996 (age 28)
Sacramento, California, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:192 lb (87 kg)
Career information
High school:Sheldon
(Sacramento, California)
College:Weber State (2014–2017)
NFL draft:2018 / round: 4 / pick: 121
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 6, 2024
Total tackles:459
Sacks:7.0
Forced fumbles:7
Fumble recoveries:2
Pass deflections:40
Interceptions:5
Defensive touchdowns:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Taron Johnson (born July 27, 1996) is an American professional football cornerback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Weber State.[1] He played high school football at Sheldon High School in Sacramento, California.[2]

Early life

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Johnson played high school football at Sheldon High School in Sacramento, California. He was pulled up to the school’s varsity squad as a sophomore, one year earlier than the standard, owing to his exceptional talent. He would go on to be the school’s first ever NFL draft pick.[2]

College career

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Coming out of high school, Weber State was the only college that offered Johnson a football position, so he accepted it.[2]

Johnson started five games as a freshman at Weber State, and was a full-time starter thereafter. As a sophomore, he set a school record with 12 pass break-ups, and then tied the record the following season as a junior. As a senior in 2017, he totaled three interceptions, nine pass break-ups, and 49 tackles, earning the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year award[3] and consensus First Time All-American honors.[4]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 11+1⁄8 in
(1.81 m) 		192 lb
(87 kg) 		30+7⁄8 in
(0.78 m) 		9+1⁄8 in
(0.23 m)		 4.50 s 1.54 s 2.60 s 4.27 s 6.86 s 33.0 in
(0.84 m)		 9 ft 10 in
(3.00 m)		 17 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[5][6]

Johnson was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL draft with the 121st overall pick.[7] On May 11, 2018, he signed his rookie contract.[8] Since being drafted, Johnson has become the Bills' starting nickel cornerback, as head coach Sean McDermott has utilized a base nickel defense.[9] His success as a run defender and in coverage has allowed the Bills to become one of the first teams to fully commit to the philosophy.[10]

As a rookie, Johnson recorded his first career sack and forced fumble against the Green Bay Packers in week 4, taking down quarterback Aaron Rodgers with a strip-sack.[11] Johnson recorded his first career interception the following week against the Tennessee Titans, picking off Marcus Mariota in the 13–12 victory.[12] He was placed on injured reserve on December 11, 2018, after undergoing shoulder surgery.[13]

Johnson with the Buffalo Bills in 2021.

In Week 14 of the 2020 season against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football, Johnson intercepted a pass thrown by Ben Roethlisberger and returned it for a 51-yard touchdown during the 26–15 win.[14]

In the Divisional Round of the 2020 playoffs against the Baltimore Ravens, Johnson intercepted a pass thrown by Lamar Jackson in the Bills' endzone and returned it for a 101-yard pick six during the 17–3 win.[15] This return tied the longest in NFL playoff history with George Teague, and was later described as "franchise altering" by the press.[16]

On October 9, 2021, Johnson signed a three-year, $24 million contract extension with the Bills.[17]

After a second-team All-Pro season in 2023 as a slot cornerback, Johnson signed a three-year, $31 million contract extension with the Bills through the 2027 season.[18]

Johnson suffered a forearm injury just a few plays into the 2024 season opener after colliding with teammate Taylor Rapp on a tackle attempt. He missed four games due to the injury.[19] He returned in Week 6 against the New York Jets, where he sealed the Bills' 23-20 win with an interception of Aaron Rodgers late in the fourth quarter.[20] In Week 10, Johnson returned an interception of Joe Flacco for a 23-yard touchdown while also recording three tackles, two pass breakups, and a sack in a 30-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts, earning AFC Defensive Player of the Week.[21]

References

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  1. ^ Davidson, Joe (January 24, 2018). "Sheldon's first NFL draft pick? Why he thinks he has a chance to prove doubters wrong". The Sacramento Bee. ISSN 0890-5738.
  2. ^ a b c Schultz, Jon (April 28, 2018). "Taron Johnson becomes Sheldon's first NFL draft pick. Why his new team was a surprise". The Sacramento Bee. ISSN 0890-5738. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  3. ^ Hein, Brett. "Weber State football: Taron Johnson named Big Sky defensive player of the year". Standard-Examiner. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  4. ^ "Weber State 2017 Football Roster - Taron Johnson". Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  5. ^ "Taron Johnson Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  6. ^ "2018 Draft Scout Taron Johnson, Weber State NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  7. ^ Maiorana, Sal (April 28, 2018). "5 things to know about Buffalo Bills pick Taron Johnson". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
  8. ^ Brown, Chris (May 11, 2018). "Bills sign fourth-round pick Johnson". BuffaloBills.com. Archived from the original on May 11, 2018.
  9. ^ Skurski, Jay (August 28, 2020). "Taron Johnson's 'dog' mentality gives Bills' secondary some bite". The Buffalo News. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  10. ^ Mann, Britton (December 27, 2021). "Nickel Package Explained: Defensive Personnel Trends in the NFL". The 33rd Team. Retrieved October 26, 2024. The Buffalo Bills were one of the first teams to fully commit to playing a nickel base defense. This season they are playing 90.3% of their defensive snaps with five defensive backs on the field. Taron Johnson is their designated nickel corner and has been a large part of the reason for this transition.. Since being drafted the Bills have continued to play more snaps as a nickel defense and continued to be one of the best in the NFL.
  11. ^ Turner, Erik (October 4, 2018). "Bills' Young Secondary Tested". Cover1.net.
  12. ^ Filipowski, Nick (October 7, 2018). "Returning to form: Bills defense forces three turnovers in win over Titans". WIVB-TV.
  13. ^ Brown, Chris (December 11, 2018). "Bills place Matt Milano, Taron Johnson on I-R". BuffaloBills.com.
  14. ^ "Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills – December 13th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  15. ^ "Divisional Round - Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills - January 16th, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  16. ^ "Bills CB Taron Johnson's 101-yard pick-six a 'franchise-altering play'". NFL.com. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  17. ^ Brown, Chris (October 9, 2021). "Bills sign CB Taron Johnson to a three-year contract extension". BuffaloBills.com.
  18. ^ Warren, Patrick (March 18, 2024). "Bills extend Taron Johnson through 2027 season". BuffaloBills.com.
  19. ^ "Bills injury report: Taron Johnson practices without red non-contact jersey". wgrz.com. October 10, 2024. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  20. ^ "WATCH: Bills CB Taron Johnson makes beautiful game-clinching interception vs. Jets". si.com. October 14, 2024. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  21. ^ Gordon, Grant (November 13, 2024). "Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, Cardinals QB Kyler Murray highlight Players of the Week". NFL.com.
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