The NFL’s highest-paid slot cornerback plays for the Bills

During the earlier part of the offseason, we proposed the idea that the Buffalo Bills might opt to extend cornerback Taron Johnson’s contract in order to alleviate the impact on their salary cap. It took some time, but the Bills indeed took this course of action last week by offering Johnson a fresh three-year deal valued at $31 million.

According to the contract details provided by Over The Cap, unlike certain other contracts negotiated this year, the Buffalo Bills strategically managed their cap space by extending Johnson’s contract into the future. As Johnson is approaching 28 years old this offseason, the Bills hold a strong belief in his ability to maintain a high level of performance for several years ahead.

Originally slated at $12.4 million, Johnson’s 2024 cap hit has been significantly reduced to $8.448 million through the recent restructuring.

In terms of guarantees, both the final year of Johnson’s previous deal (2024) and the initial year of his new contract (2025) have been fully secured, amounting to a total of $17.825 million. This includes a $7.25 million signing bonus and $1.125 million guaranteed salary for 2024, while for 2025, his $5.2 million salary and a $4.25 million option bonus are both entirely guaranteed.

Although Johnson’s salaries notably escalate in 2026 ($8.1 million) and 2027 ($9 million), none of these amounts are currently guaranteed.

Consistent with typical Brandon Beane contracts, Johnson’s deal features a per-game active bonus ($30,000 per game up to $510,000) and a workout bonus ($150,000 through 2026 and $500,000 in 2027) for all seasons covered by the agreement.

Looking ahead to the post-2027 period, the Bills have inserted multiple void years to distribute the cap hit more evenly. Given that Johnson will be 32 by then, the possibility of another extension seems uncertain, but the dead-cap implications are not overly burdensome should the team opt for an earlier separation from the contract.

This deal positions Johnson as the highest-paid slot cornerback in the NFL, surpassing Colts cornerback Kenny Moore, who inked a three-year, $30 million extension earlier in the offseason.

The contract’s yearly breakdowns are as follows:

In 2024, Johnson will earn $9.535 million in cash with a cap hit of $8.4475 million. In 2025, his earnings will amount to $10.11 million, with a cap hit of $8.16 million. In 2026, he will receive $8.76 million in cash, with a cap hit of $11.06 million and a dead-cap of $7.75 million. In 2027, Johnson’s cash earnings will reach $10.042 million, with a cap hit of $12.342 million and a dead-cap of $5.45 million, providing a cap savings of $6.892 million if cut. Furthermore, there are void years specified in the contract, which could impact the dead-cap figures if Johnson is not re-signed beyond 2027.