Bills’ six-year starter fills void left by departed defensive backs

Buffalo Bills nickel cornerback Taron Johnson is one of the few remaining.

Upon closer inspection, he’s actually the only one remaining from that original group of defensive backs that helped the Bills to five straight double-digit winning campaigns from 2019-2023.

When Buffalo selected Johnson in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, he joined a unit that included starting cornerback Tre’Davious White as well as safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde. White and Poyer were released this past offseason, since landing contracts with the Los Angeles Rams and Miami Dolphins, respectively. Hyde, who is no longer under contract, is considering a possible exit in exchange for another go-around in Buffalo.

That leaves Johnson, an All-Pro performer, as the elder statesman on the back end of Buffalo’s defense.

“I just want to be more vocal. A lot of times I would let Micah and Po do the talking, but I’m doing it (now). I want to make sure I do it because we have a lot of young people who haven’t done it. I’m been in the league for so long, I feel like it’s my job to do that for them,” Johnson said after an OTA practice at Orchard Park.

Johnson, who played in 88 regular-season games with the Bills, will understandably be missed by his teammates of six years, but appears ready for his new role.

“I just saw them both (Hyde and Poyer) last weekend, so I’m definitely going to miss those guys. It’s time for other guys to get their opportunity,” Johnson said.

Scheduled to turn 28 on July 27, Johnson is already acclimating to the new defensive backs during Phase 3 OTAs.

“The way we train there is almost like training camp,” Johnson said. “I’m talking like, maybe not, if we have a game on Sunday, but I’m definitely down to the guys and making sure that even off the field, they’re studying their playbooks and watching film for s ‘improve.”

The highly paid Johnson, who holds the NFL’s richest contracts among nickel corners, explained the importance of being an effective communicator in the defensive backfield.

“We always have to communicate, and that will help us make sure we don’t have any problems or mistakes on the field,” Johnson said.