Bills pull off a late-night trade ahead of free agency that gives Brandon Beane some ammo for the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft
Brandon Beane gets a deal done.
Things are always changing regarding the NFL’s free agency period. It’s a crazy time of year, with trades and signings happening left and right. Blockbusters, releases, extensions, it’s got everything the football fan wants, outside of actual football being played.
For Buffalo, things are particularly changing regarding nickel cornerback Taron Johnson. The team announced on Friday that he had been released in a slew of other releases, including wide receiver Curtis Samuel, safety Taylor Rapp, and cornerback Dane Jackson.
It appears that’s no longer the case as Buffalo has found a trade partner in the Las Vegas Raiders. General manager Brandon Beane pulls off some late-night magic to give him some more ammo to improve the roster ahead of free agency officially kicking off on Monday.
Full details of the Taron Johnson trade to the Las Vegas Raiders
The full details of the trade are that the Bills receive the sixth-round pick while the Raiders get Johnson and a seventh-round selection. It’s a solid addition for Las Vegas.
While it’s only a pick swap, Beane at least bumps up a little in the draft with the sixth-rounder coming back.
For Johnson, when you look at the new defensive scheme under Jim Leonhard, it became clear that his services were no longer needed in Western New York. Johnson battled through some injuries and saw a downtick in his production, all signs pointing to a potential release from the organization this offseason. There were even rumors swirling of a position change to safety at one point.
Johnosn played in 13 games with eight starts in 2025, logging 57 tackles, four passes defensesd, and one tackle for loss. Over his eight-year career in the blue and red, Johnson had 572 tackles, 48 passes defensed, 23 tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits, eight forced fumbles, six interceptions, and three fumble recoveries. As the Buffalo Bills reported, he was a second-team All-Pro in 2023.
Johnson is responsible for one of the best plays in Buffalo sports history, a pick-six against quarterback Lamar Jackson in the playoffs. It’s a moment Bills Mafia will never forget.
While his time in Buffalo has come to an end, Johnson leaves behind a more than impressive legacy, along with one of the most unforgettable moments in franchise history.
The Bills turn the page and continue reshaping the roster as Beane prepares to attack free agency and build the next version of a Super Bowl contender around quarterback Josh Allen.
Buffalo Bills News
Bills set their eyes on the future with stunning roster decision immediately impacting Josh Allen ahead of free agency
Bills Mafia has to be thrilled with the decision.
