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The Bills have been urged to find a way to negotiate a pay cut with cornerback Taron Johnson
The Buffalo Bills have a lot of work to do this offseason. They have already crossed off several items on their to-do list in the wake of firing head coach Sean McDermott and promoting offensive coordinator Joe Brady to replace him, but you can make an argument that the important work hasn’t even begun yet.
After another disappointing playoff run, Buffalo needs to make upgrades to its roster across the board. In order to do that, though, it needs to have money at its disposal, which led one team insider to recently urge the Bills to negotiate a pay cut with longtime starting cornerback Taron Johnson.
Bills Face Big Taron Johnson Decision This Offseason
Johnson has spent his entire eight-year career with the Bills after getting selected in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. After playing sparingly in his first two seasons, Johnson became a full-time starter in 2020, and he hasn’t looked back since then, as he’s remained a key piece of Buffalo’s defense throughout his time in town.
In 2023, Johnson earned a spot on the All-Pro Second Team, but his play has declined drastically since that breakout campaign. Last season, Johnson racked up 57 tackles and four pass deflections in 13 games, but opponents posted a passer rating of 94.7 when targeting him in coverage, which is the third-worst mark of his career.
With Jim Leonhard taking over as the Bills’ defensive coordinator, the team will be switching to a 3-4 base defense, which doesn’t exactly fit Johnson’s playstyle at cornerback. A position change could be in line for Johnson, and if that happens, the team may have to discuss a potential pay cut with him ahead of free agency.
“The Bills would be wise to seek a pay cut on Johnson’s part,” Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News wrote. “He’s signed two contract extensions with the team heading into his ninth season. He made one of the biggest plays in franchise history. He’s been a great player for the team, but his play took a step back last season. That needs to be reflected in his salary.”
What Should the Bills Do with Taron Johnson?
Taron JohnsonBills cornerback Taron Johnson at M&T Bank Stadium on October 02, 2022.
Johnson is set to cost the Bills $11.4 million against the cap in 2026, which is simply too much if he’s going to play at the level he played at last season. Leaving Johnson on the boundary in a 3-4 defense probably isn’t what Buffalo wants to do at this stage of the game, so if they hold onto him, they will likely use him as a nickel cornerback moving forward.
The problem, of course, is that on his current deal, that would make Johnson one of the most expensive nickelbacks in the game. With Buffalo needing help across the roster, they can’t afford to be using such a large amount of money on Johnson when those funds could be used to address other needs on the roster. Discussing a restructured deal with Johnson is a good first step, but if he doesn’t bite, the team may need to move on from him this offseason.
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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