Taron Johnson

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]

Not to be confused with Darin Johnson.

Taron Johnson
Johnson with the Buffalo Bills in 2018
No. 24 – Buffalo Bills
Position:Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1996-07-27) July 27, 1996
Sacramento, California
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 NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2020
Total tackles:186
Sacks:3.0
Pass deflections:15
Interceptions:2
Forced fumbles:3
Fumble recoveries:0
Touchdowns:2
Player stats at NFL.com

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
HeightWeightArm lengthHand size40-yard dash20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench 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 s4.28 s7.03 s33.0 in
(0.84 m)		9 ft 10 in
(3.00 m)		17 reps
All values from NFL Combine[5]

Johnson was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft with the 121st overall pick.[6] On May 11, 2018, he signed his rookie contract.[7] 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.[8] Johnson recorded his first career interception the following week against the Tennessee Titans, picking off Marcus Mariota in the 13–12 victory.[9] He was placed on injured reserve on December 11, 2018 after undergoing shoulder surgery.[10]

Johnson is currently the Bills' starting nickel cornerback.[11]

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.[12]

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.[13] This return tied the longest in NFL playoff history with George Teague.

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. "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 Combine Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  6. Maiorana, Sal (April 28, 2018). "5 things to know about Buffalo Bills pick Taron Johnson". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
  7. Brown, Chris (May 11, 2018). "Bills sign fourth-round pick Johnson". BuffaloBills.com. Archived from the original on May 11, 2018.
  8. Turner, Erik (October 4, 2018). "Bills' Young Secondary Tested". Cover1.net.
  9. Filipowski, Nick (October 7, 2018). "Returning to form: Bills defense forces three turnovers in win over Titans". WIVB-TV.
  10. Brown, Chris (December 11, 2018). "Bills place Matt Milano, Taron Johnson on I-R". BuffaloBills.com.
  11. Skurski, Jay (August 28, 2020). "Taron Johnson's 'dog' mentality gives Bills' secondary some bite". The Buffalo News. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  12. "Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills – December 13th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  13. "Divisional Round - Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills - January 16th, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
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