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One Bills insider believes that cornerback Taron Johnson could be a cut candidate this offseason
The Buffalo Bills have undergone quite a bit of change over the past few weeks. Sean McDermott is out as the team’s head coach, with offensive coordinator Joe Brady being promoted to replace him. After getting the job, Brady has moved quickly to fill out his coaching staff, and on paper at least, it looks like he’s put together an All-Star cast.
And yet, the offseason has only just gotten underway for Buffalo. The more notable changes, of course, will be made to the team’s roster once free agency opens and the 2026 NFL Draft rolls around. The front office also may need to make some tough decisions on players currently under contract, and according to one team insider, that could lead to veteran cornerback Taron Johnson‘s time with the Bills coming to an end.
Taron Johnson Floated as Potential Bills’ Cut Candidate
In an effort to create salary cap space ahead of free agency, teams across the league will take stock of the players currently at their disposal and assess whether or not they are worth the amount of money they are set to make in the upcoming season. With some bonuses set to be triggered once the new league year rolls around in March, the next few weeks are crucial when it comes to identifying potential cut candidates.
Early on in the offseason, Johnson has been a guy frequently floated as a cut candidate for the Bills. After earning a spot on the All-Pro Second Team in 2023, Johnson’s play has fallen off a cliff over the past two seasons, to the point where he lost his job in the starting lineup at times in the previous campaign.
With defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard set to make the team’s defensive scheme his own, Johnson could be the odd man out in the secondary, as he struggled to remain an effective option on the boundary in 2025. Considering his poor play as of late, and the fact that he is set to earn $11.4 million in 2024, Bills’ insider Katherine Fitzgerald of The Buffalo News believes that Johnson could be headed for the exit door this offseason.
“A surprise salary-cap cut is an interesting question … With the emphasis on surprise, I’ll go Taron Johnson,” Fitzgerald wrote.
Should the Bills Release Taron Johnson?
GettyThe Bills have been urged to find a way to negotiate a pay cut with cornerback Taron Johnson
If Johnson were to be released, he would be designated as a post-June 1 release, as that would help the team spread out his dead cap hit over the next two seasons. More importantly, it would save the team $8.67 million in cap space, as compared to a pre-June 1 release, which would only result in $1.9 million in cap savings.
Considering how Johnson has spent his entire career with Buffalo to this point, the team will likely attempt to restructure his contract in order to save some money before releasing him. If the two sides can’t agree on new terms, though, the Bills may have to move on from Johnson, as his play over the past two seasons has not matched the $11.4 million he’s set to make in 2026. As a result, Johnson’s status will be well worth watching over the next few weeks.
Owen Crisafulli Owen Crisafulli is a Breaking News Writer at Heavy. In addition to writing for Heavy, Owen works as a Content Producer for More Views Media. His work has also appeared on ClutchPoints, The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, Basketball Network, and FanSided, where he shared his insights on a variety of sports topics primarily surrounding the NFL, NBA, and MLB. More about Owen Crisafulli
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