The hits keep coming from the Buffalo Bills in terms of offseason moves, and the official beginning of the new league year hasn’t even started yet.
After sending shockwaves throughout the league with the news of an impending trade for Chicago Bears’ wide receiver D.J. Moore this past Thursday, the Bills continued making housekeeping moves on Friday and Saturday, releasing four players and retaining the services of veteran center Connor McGovern after reaching agreement on a new four-year deal on Saturday.
However, there has been one adjustment to the previously aforementioned moves.
After making it known that the team would be releasing veteran nickel cornerback Taron Johnson along with three other players on Friday, the Bills apparently decided to slightly shift course, as it was announced late Sunday evening that Johnson would actually be traded to the Las Vegas Raiders when the new league year begins on Wednesday instead of being released outright.
A native of Sacramento, California, and an alum of Weber State in Ogden, Utah, Johnson will be heading back out West for the first time in his NFL career after spending the last eight years in Western New York, something which was probably attractive for the former 2018 fourth-round draft pick of the Bills.
Exact terms of the deal were not fully disclosed, but it was reported that the trade will include a swap of picks, with Buffalo getting a sixth-round selection in exchange for Johnson and a seventh-round pick.
In addition, the Bills will still be on the hook for $9.5 million in dead cap money this offseason, while saving $1.9 million.
Known for his 101-yard interception return for a touchdown in the 2020 AFC divisional round against the Baltimore Ravens that propelled the Bills to an AFC Championship appearance for the first time in 27 years, the 5-foot-11, 193-pound defensive back finished his career in Buffalo with 572 tackles, 48 pass deflections, 23 tackles for loss, eight sacks, eight forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries in 113 regular season games played, which included 87 starts.
In 12 career postseason starts, Johnson tallied 69 combined tackles, seven pass deflections, five tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and the previously mentioned interception.
He will turn 30 years old in July.
The NFL legal tampering window officially opens up today at Noon ET, so stay glued to the Buffalo Fambase blog for all the latest news regarding the Bills in the coming days, weeks, and months.
Editor’s babble: Thanks to John Green for all his contributions to our blog. You can also find John on X @JGreen_PRsports.
BuffaloFAMbase.com is sponsored by 26 Shirts
Every Monday, we launch a two-week campaign of a new Buffalo-themed t-shirt design. Every purchase results in a donation to a local family in need. After the campaign ends, the shirt is typically retired. A new design is released, and a new family benefits from your fandom!
