ESPN reported on March 8, citing sources, that the Las Vegas Raiders traded with the Buffalo Bills, sending Taron Johnson to the Silver and Black. Moreover, the Raiders are sending a sixth-round pick to the Bills in exchange for a seventh-round pick.
With this trade for Johnson, it moves the Raiders’ salary cap space to $111.9 million, per Over the Cap. Additionally, the veteran has eight interceptions, 48 passes defended, eight forced fumbles, and 572 tackles in his career.
Even though Las Vegas needs to spend to the salary cap floor, the move for Johnson isn’t being received positively. Although Johnson’s cap hit comes at $8.6 million, The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen would have preferred that the Silver and Black use that money in another way.
“Basically a one-year $8.6 million deal,” Nguyen wrote on March 8 on X. “It’s a lot for a nickel, who is clearly declining. This feels like another Alex Cappa-type move.”
Moreover, while Johnson’s profile is what the Raiders are looking for in their new defensive scheme, the player himself isn’t the right choice.
“Trying to move toward a [Mike] Macdonald scheme means you need a multi-tool nickel but I’m not confident Johnson is going to hold up and bounce back in that role at his age (signs of decline last two years),” Nguyen wrote in another tweet.
Taron Johnson Helps Raiders Secondary
Cornerback help was a clear need for the Raiders after last season exposed a lack of depth and consistency in the secondary. As a result, Johnson helps address that concern.
Kyu Blu Kelly experienced a difficult campaign as the player allowed a team-high 559 yards on 37 catches and 56 targets before a knee injury in Week 14 ended his season early. Meanwhile, Darien Porter, selected in the third round of the 2025 draft, played in all 17 games and made 10 starts. The young player did show promise, but is still gaining experience at the NFL level.
Finally, Eric Stokes, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent, provided one of the steadier performances in the defensive backfield. Stokes finished the season with 53 tackles and five pass breakups while giving up limited production through the air.
Las Vegas Urged to Pursue Veterans
Johnson will be a veteran leader on defense, but he might not be the only one that the team might pursue, or at least be encouraged to pursue. Moreover, The Volume’s John Middlekauff notes that the Raiders should use the cap space to lure veterans who can bring leadership to a young rebuilding team.
“I think one thing they have to do over the next three or four days, is potentially overpay a high-level, veteran, winning-type guy,” Middlekauff said on the March 8 edition of “The Colin Cowherd Podcast.”
“Get a guy who has been a part of a winner, who is a high-character team leader. If you got to overpay them [do it]. Listen, they got advantages. People like living in Vegas, no state income tax. It’s not like a tough sell in free agency in football. This isn’t basketball or baseball. These guys go where you give them the most money.”
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