One of the Buffalo Bills' prominent players in their defensive system has been locked up for another three years.
The Bills announced on Saturday that nickel cornerback Taron Johnson has signed a three-year contract extension with the team through the 2024 season.
Johnson is currently playing on the final year of his rookie contract after being a fourth round pick (121st overall) of the Bills in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Weber State. In three games played this season, Johnson has already registered 15 total tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.
The 25-year-old cornerback has established a nice role for himself on Sean McDermott and Leslie Frazier's defense. Over his four years with the Bills, Johnson has played in 42 games - starting 23 of those games - registering 201 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks, four forced fumbles and two interceptions. In four playoff games, Johnson has picked up 17 total tackles, two tackles for a loss, and an interception.
Johnson's 2020 season with the Bills was the best of his career to this point, where he was able to stay healthy and play in all 16 games. In those games, Johnson started 11 of them, amassing 94 total tackles, five tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, one sack, a forced fumble and an interception returned for a touchdown in Buffalo's Week 14 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The staple moment of Johnson's career with the Bills, so far, came in the 2020 AFC Divisional Round against the Baltimore Ravens when he picked off quarterback Lamar Jackson in the end zone and returned the football 101 yards for a touchdown.
According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, Johnson's extension with the Bills is worth $24 million with roughly $14 million of that money guaranteed.
After missing this past Sunday's win over the Houston Texans with a groin injury, Johnson is expected to be back in the lineup this Sunday night against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
Related
