Taron Johnson Explained

Taron Johnson should not be confused with Darin Johnson.

Taron Johnson
Current Team:Buffalo Bills
Number:7
Position:Cornerback
Birth Date:July 27, 1996
Birth Place:Sacramento, California, U.S.
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lbs:192
High School:Sheldon
(Sacramento, California)
College:Weber State (2014–2017)
Draftyear:2018
Draftround:4
Draftpick:121
Pastteams:
Status:Active
Highlights:
Statseason:2023
Statlabel1:Total tackles
Statvalue1:450
Statlabel2:Sacks
Statvalue2:7.0
Statlabel3:Pass deflections
Statvalue3:39
Statlabel4:Interceptions
Statvalue4:4
Statlabel5:Forced fumbles
Statvalue5:7
Statlabel6:Fumble recoveries
Statvalue6:2
Statlabel7:Touchdowns
Statvalue7:1
Pfr:JohnTa01

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.[1] He played high school football at Sheldon High School in Sacramento, California.

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.[2]

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[3] and consensus First Time All-American honors.[4]

Professional career

Johnson was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL draft with the 121st overall pick.[5] On May 11, 2018, he signed his rookie contract.[6] Against the Green Bay Packers in week 4, Johnson recorded his first career sack and forced fumble, taking down quarterback Aaron Rodgers with a strip-sack.[7] Johnson recorded his first career interception the following week against the Tennessee Titans, picking off Marcus Mariota in the 13–12 victory.[8] He was placed on injured reserve on December 11, 2018, after undergoing shoulder surgery.[9]

Johnson is currently the Bills' starting nickel cornerback.[10] In Week 14 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.[11]

In the Divisional Round of the 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.[12] This return tied the longest in NFL playoff history with George Teague.

On October 9, 2021, Johnson signed a three-year, $24 million contract extension with the Bills.[13]

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.[14]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Davidson . Joe . January 24, 2018 . Sheldon's first NFL draft pick? Why he thinks he has a chance to prove doubters wrong . The Sacramento Bee . 0890-5738.
  2. News: Schultz . Jon . April 28, 2018 . Taron Johnson becomes Sheldon's first NFL draft pick. Why his new team was a surprise . February 10, 2019 . The Sacramento Bee . en-US . 0890-5738.
  3. News: Hein . Brett . Weber State football: Taron Johnson named Big Sky defensive player of the year . en . Standard-Examiner . October 18, 2018.
  4. Web site: Weber State 2017 Football Roster - Taron Johnson. February 6, 2021.
  5. News: Maiorana . Sal . April 28, 2018 . 5 things to know about Buffalo Bills pick Taron Johnson . Rochester Democrat and Chronicle .
  6. News: Brown . Chris . May 11, 2018 . Bills sign fourth-round pick Johnson . BuffaloBills.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180511180219/http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-sign-fourth-round-pick-Johnson/6ec1e44c-bfeb-4e2b-b64f-9cd14410a671 . May 11, 2018.
  7. Web site: Turner . Erik . October 4, 2018 . Bills' Young Secondary Tested . Cover1.net.
  8. News: Filipowski . Nick . October 7, 2018 . Returning to form: Bills defense forces three turnovers in win over Titans . .
  9. Web site: Brown . Chris . December 11, 2018 . Bills place Matt Milano, Taron Johnson on I-R . BuffaloBills.com.
  10. Web site: Skurski . Jay . August 28, 2020 . Taron Johnson's 'dog' mentality gives Bills' secondary some bite . September 21, 2020 . The Buffalo News . en.
  11. Web site: Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills – December 13th, 2020 . December 18, 2020 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  12. Web site: Divisional Round - Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills - January 16th, 2021 . January 20, 2021 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  13. Web site: Bills sign CB Taron Johnson to a three-year contract extension. Brown, Chris. BuffaloBills.com. October 9, 2021.
  14. Web site: Bills extend Taron Johnson through 2027 season. Warren, Patrick. BuffaloBills.com. March 18, 2024.