Fresh Taron Johnson trade rumors are surfacing after the veteran CB has decided to skip voluntary workouts as he’s seeking a new contract before the 2026 season. According to Vincent Bonsignore of the California Post, Johnson was one of the notable trade additions for the Las Vegas Raiders, but is currently absent from workouts. Johnson, a former fourth-round pick, spent his entire career with the Buffalo Bills before getting traded to Las Vegas in March. The former Weber State product has been a staple in the Bills’ secondary, signing a new extension in 2024, which made him the highest-paid slot cornerback.
However, Johnson is seeking more security on his current deal established with the Bills, since none of the $18M is guaranteed across the two years he has left on the contract with the Raiders. It’s interesting to see the 30-year-old take this route as the Bills were already preparing to release him this offseason if they couldn’t find a trade partner. This was until the Bills agreed with the Raiders to send him to Las Vegas in exchange for a late-round pick.
Taron Johnson Trade Rumors
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Taron Johnson Trade Rumors: Holdout Could Force $18 Million Decision
The veteran hasn’t been the same due to injuries that kept him from reaching his full potential. With Jim Leonhard stepping in and firing Sean McDermott, the Bills are rebuilding a new regime, so it wouldn’t make sense to keep Johnson. However, the cornerback has missed nine games since the 2024 campaign. If he doesn’t show up for mandatory practice, he will face fines, but the Raiders could completely move on from the cornerback.
Johnson already has a strong injury history, so it’s not sensible to pay him his guarantees. It doesn’t mean that the cornerback can’t save his career in Las Vegas, but after selecting second-round pick, Treydan Stukes, the Raiders are better off starting him instead. If Johnson doesn’t show up at all, they could flip him to another team or release him. Nobody should expect the Raiders to pay him his guarantees since he’s obviously a risk.
Possible Next Teams
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have done an enormous amount to upgrade their secondary unit. Before selecting Caleb Downs in the first round, the team added Jalen Thompson, PJ Locke, Cobie Durant and Derion Kendrick. The Cowboys’ secondary looks to be in shape, but with last year’s injuries, they shouldn’t turn down the opportunity to add another cornerback. DaRon Bland survived a cut or trade this offseason after cutting ties with Trevon Diggs last year.
This means Bland isn’t off the hook just yet. If he has another down season, the team could sign Johnson as a replacement. They won’t trade for him, but it’ll be interesting to see if he can phase into the group alongside Shavon Revel Jr. and Reddy Steward.
Baltimore Ravens
Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens didn’t sign a singular veteran cornerback, and instead drafted one. They didn’t select one until the fifth round, picking Duke CB Chandler Rivers. Before that, the team re-signed Chidobe Awuzie, which was probably one of the worst decisions. Awuzie is solid, but he’s too inconsistent and might not keep up with Nate Wiggins.
On the other hand, Marlon Humphrey is entering the final year of his current deal, and as it was anticipated that the Ravens would move on, the team decided to keep him. Don’t be surprised if the team trades him this season if they endure a losing year. However, the Ravens should add Johnson if he’s still available to raise the ceiling of this secondary room.
Kansas City Chiefs
If any team needs a true high-stakes veteran cornerback, it’s the Kansas City Chiefs. The team lost two starting cornerbacks, Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, to the Rams this offseason. After the team added Alohi Gilman to replace Bryan Cook in the safety unit, the Chiefs selected CB Mansoor Delane in the first round.
Unfortunately, the Chiefs didn’t do much to sign a capable slot cornerback other than adding Kaiir Elam for depth. Johnson won’t start, but he’d be a beneficial fit behind Nohl Williams.