Taron Johnson
refer to caption
Johnson in 2021
No. 7 – Buffalo Bills
Position:Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1996-07-27) July 27, 1996 (age 27)
Sacramento, California, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:192 lb (87 kg)
Career information
High school:Sheldon
(Sacramento, California)
College:Weber State
NFL Draft:2018 / Round: 4 / Pick: 121
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 18, 2023
Total tackles:450
Sacks:7.0
Pass deflections:39
Interceptions:4
Forced fumbles:7
Fumble recoveries:2
Touchdowns:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Taron Johnson (born July 27, 1996) is an American 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.[2]

Early years

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.[2]

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

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[5][6]

Johnson was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft with the 121st overall pick.[7] On May 11, 2018, he signed his rookie contract.[8] 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.[9] Johnson recorded his first career interception the following week against the Tennessee Titans, picking off Marcus Mariota in the 13–12 victory.[10] He was placed on injured reserve on December 11, 2018 after undergoing shoulder surgery.[11]

Johnson is currently the Bills' starting nickel cornerback.[12]

Johnson with the Buffalo Bills in 2021.

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.[13]

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.[14] 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.[15]

References

  1. ^ 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. ISSN 0890-5738.
  2. ^ a b c "Taron Johnson becomes Sheldon's first NFL draft pick. Why his new team was a surprise". The Sacramento Bee. ISSN 0890-5738. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  3. ^ Hein, Brett. "Weber State football: Taron Johnson named Big Sky defensive player of the year". Standard-Examiner. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
  4. ^ "Weber State 2017 Football Roster - Taron Johnson". Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  5. ^ "Taron Johnson Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  6. ^ "2018 Draft Scout Taron Johnson, Weber State NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  7. ^ Maiorana, Sal (April 28, 2018). "5 things to know about Buffalo Bills pick Taron Johnson". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
  8. ^ Brown, Chris (May 11, 2018). "Bills sign fourth-round pick Johnson". BuffaloBills.com. Archived from the original on May 11, 2018.
  9. ^ Turner, Erik (October 4, 2018). "Bills' Young Secondary Tested". Cover1.net.
  10. ^ Filipowski, Nick (October 7, 2018). "Returning to form: Bills defense forces three turnovers in win over Titans". WIVB-TV.
  11. ^ Brown, Chris (December 11, 2018). "Bills place Matt Milano, Taron Johnson on I-R". BuffaloBills.com.
  12. ^ Skurski, Jay (August 28, 2020). "Taron Johnson's 'dog' mentality gives Bills' secondary some bite". The Buffalo News. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  13. ^ "Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills – December 13th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  14. ^ "Divisional Round - Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills - January 16th, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  15. ^ Brown, Chris (October 9, 2021). "Bills sign CB Taron Johnson to a three-year contract extension". BuffaloBills.com.

External links

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