Raiders Acquire Cornerback Taron Johnson in Trade with Bills

The Las Vegas Raiders will add the veteran defensive back to their secondary.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Las Vegas Raiders have agreed to acquire cornerback Taron Johnson from the Buffalo Bills in a trade, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The Raiders will also receive a seventh-round draft pick in exchange for a sixth-rounder. Johnson, a fourth-round pick by the Bills in 2018, has been a starter in Buffalo's three-cornerback formation since 2020 and was recently discussed as a candidate to shift to safety.

Why it matters

The trade bolsters the Raiders' secondary, which struggled at times last season. Johnson is regarded as one of the NFL's top nickel cornerbacks and will provide veteran experience and playmaking ability to the Las Vegas defense.

The details

The trade cannot be finalized until the start of the new league year on Wednesday. The Bills had announced they were releasing Johnson along with several other players to get under the salary cap, but were able to find a trade partner instead. Johnson had two years left on a three-year contract extension he signed in 2024 after earning a second-team All-Pro selection.

  • The trade was agreed to on Sunday, March 9, 2026.
  • The trade cannot be finalized until Wednesday, the start of the new league year.

The players

Taron Johnson

A 29-year-old cornerback who has played eight seasons with the Buffalo Bills. He is regarded as one of the NFL's top nickel cornerbacks and was recently discussed as a candidate to shift to safety.

Las Vegas Raiders

The NFL team that is acquiring Taron Johnson in a trade with the Buffalo Bills to bolster their secondary.

Buffalo Bills

The NFL team that is trading cornerback Taron Johnson to the Las Vegas Raiders.

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What’s next

The trade cannot be finalized until the start of the new league year on Wednesday, when Johnson will need to pass a physical with the Raiders.

The takeaway

This trade provides the Raiders with a proven veteran cornerback in Taron Johnson, who can help solidify their secondary and provide a boost to their defense as they look to build on their performance from last season.