The Buffalo Bills face a pivotal offseason after parting ways with head coach Sean McDermott and promoting offensive coordinator Joe Brady to lead the team. With a renewed focus on upgrading the roster, insiders say a key early move should be negotiating a pay cut with cornerback Taron Johnson, a nine-year Bills veteran entering his ninth season.
Johnson has been a foundational piece of Buffalo’s defense since being drafted in 2018, earning All-Pro Second Team honors in 2023 but showing a decline in performance last season. In 13 games, he logged 57 tackles and four pass deflections, while opposing quarterbacks posted a 94.7 passer rating targeting Johnson, the third-worst mark of his career.
The Bills’ transition to a 3-4 base defense under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard complicates Johnson’s fit at outside corner. A position switch could be on the horizon, making a veteran restructure an appealing option to manage cap space while evaluating personnel for a nickel role. Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News advocates a potential pay reduction, noting Johnson’s two contract extensions but emphasizing that his 2026 cap hit of $11.4 million is steep for his current production.
If Buffalo cannot secure a favorable restructuring, the team may need to consider moving on from Johnson to free up funds for broader roster improvements. Holding onto him as a high-priced nickel could also be problematic, given the Bills’ need to address multiple roster gaps this offseason. A potential restructuring or exit would align with Buffalo’s broader strategy to optimize cap space for significant upgrades across the roster.
