# Taron Johnson

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 and was drafted by the Bills in the 4th round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

## Early life

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.

## College career

Coming out of high school, Weber State was the only college that offered Johnson a football position, so he accepted it.
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 and consensus First Time All-American honors.

## Professional career

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 ||||||||||||
Johnson was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL draft with the 121st overall pick. On May 11, 2018, he signed his rookie contract. Since being drafted, Johnson has become the Bills' starting nickel cornerback, as head coach Sean McDermott has utilized a base nickel defense. 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.
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. Johnson recorded his first career interception the following week against the Tennessee Titans, picking off Marcus Mariota in the 13–12 victory. He was placed on injured reserve on December 11, 2018, after undergoing shoulder surgery.
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.
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. This return tied the longest in NFL playoff history with George Teague, and was later described as "franchise altering" by the press.
On October 9, 2021, Johnson signed a three-year, $24 million contract extension with the Bills.
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.
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. 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. 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.