It’s time to have an uncomfortable conversation about Taron

[FireChans]

Taron Johnson may be washed folks.

 

He was honestly kinda shaky last year (he notably got eaten alive by the Rams) and this year he, well, hasn’t been good.

 

Some startling 2025 stats for one of our most steadfast Bills and perhaps the last very good player from our 2020-2021 team.

 

Missed tackle rate - 8.7%(highest since 2021)

QB rating when targeted - 102 (highest in his career)

 

Obviously NCB is a tough position and at his peak, TJ was up there for best in the business, but I’m afraid those days are coming to an end.

 

I think he is next up on the “pay cut or be cut” block in 2026 with a cap hit of $11M.

[Bermuda Triangle]

Unfortunately, I agree.  Great player, but nobody beats Father Time.

[DrDawkinstein]

Cant disagree. I've been hoping Jordan Hancock would step up into that role, and maybe that's what they're saving him for.

 

Love Taron, but father time is undefeated, and you have to be super athletic to be a good NCB.

[Process]

Don't think it's that uncomfortable, it was pretty clear before the season that this is likely his last season with the Bills. Hopefully Hancock is the answer because we're going to have enough holes to fill. 

[BuffaloBillies]

Need to play more base 4-3 anyway, since teams are running all over us.

[DrDawkinstein]

 

He's making $8M this year, set to make $11M next year but his dead cap next year would be $7M. So yeah. Goner.

[ngbills]

Only hope is if we have at least one upgrade in the secondary it could benefit. But with that I dont think he is even close to the player he was once thought of. That just makes him serviceable. When you have him and White together, with a two safeties that are average at best, its just a recipe for disaster. 

[Einstein]

He was trending down last year as well.

[stlbills13]

I'm ready to move away from always having a nickel on the field anyway. His play only makes me feel stronger about that. 

 

But whether it's at NCB or safety, I want to see Hancock on the field a lot starting this week.

[LabattBlue]

4 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

He's making $8M this year, set to make $11M next year but his dead cap next year would be $7M. So yeah. Goner.

Not to nitpick, but 2026 dead cap hit of 7.75 and 2027 dead cap hit of 5.45.

[billsfan89]

I’m hoping he can turn in a better season this year. He’s clearly at best on his last leg I was hoping he was going to be like Po in 2023 still good but lost half a step. Glad the team drafted three DB’s in the draft because this team is older at corner. Hoping a bye helps him out and he can regain some form

[DrDawkinstein]

1 minute ago, LabattBlue said:

Not to nitpick, but 2026 dead cap hit of 7.75 and 2027 dead cap hit of 5.45.

 

"Less than his $11M salary" is what I was going for. But I do appreciate accuracy 

 

I dont think 2027 matters much because we cant (or shouldnt) absorb an even higher cost for him next year than this year. But good info, thanks!

[Alphadawg7]

I don't know I would say its uncomfortable, and not sure he is approaching being "washed", but its not been a good season for him, or much of the secondary.  

 

Play up front greatly impacts play on the back, and vice versa.  So for me, I am not yet in the panic mindset on someone like Taron, whose job is inherently harder because we have not been good up front or on the back end of this defense.  

 

If getting Max and the PED duo back, on top of our injured guys (Olive is back, but just got back last game) can help the front 7 and secondary play better, then I think its quite possible we will see Taron play closer to his standards. 

 

That being said, I do think Taron's days here are in jeopardy coming to an end this next offseason unless they rework his deal.  His cap hit takes a big jump for 2026 and also 2027, his age 30 and 31 seasons.  He will either be a cap casualty, or he will get his deal redone.  I can't see him playing again next year under his current deal that runs until 2028 (with 2028 being a void year).  While I think he is capable of more than he has done this year (due to the struggles across the D around him), his best days are likely behind him.  

Edited 5 hours ago by Alphadawg7

[LABILLBACKER]

11 minutes ago, Process said:

Don't think it's that uncomfortable, it was pretty clear before the season that this is likely his last season with the Bills. Hopefully Hancock is the answer because we're going to have enough holes to fill. 

I think this is the last season for alot of good ole Bills....

Taron

Milano

Tre

Hamlin

Poyer

Phillips

AJE

DQ

.....maybe Rapp or Bishop?....coincidentally they're all on defense. 

 

[Process]

Just now, LABILLBACKER said:

I think this is the last season for alot of good ole Bills....

Taron

Milano

Tre

Hamlin

Poyer

Phillips

AJE

DQ

.....maybe Rapp or Bishop?....coincidentally they're all on defense. 

 

Agree that all those guys will be gone.

 

Hopefully we have the answers at 1T, NCB and CB2 already on the roster. 

 

S and OLB will be the massive needs. 

[transient]

No disagreement here. Unfortunately, the piss poor LB and DB play all around of late is also shining a giant spotlight on it.

[KOKBILLS]

Good grief...

And here I was trying to battle with the realization of Bernard and Rapp falling off the face of the earth, Tre being a major liability, all the injuries, and now this?

OK fine... 

But ya... There has been a lot of talk about the fact that it seems like McBeane have been caught in the trap of...every young player will improve, and every vet player will at least stay at their level of play... That's just not reality. Reality is the average lifespan of an NFL career is 3.3 years... 

[FireChans]

20 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

Not to nitpick, but 2026 dead cap hit of 7.75 and 2027 dead cap hit of 5.45.

Especially to nitpick, but we can cut TJ next year for a 2026 dead cap hit of 7.75 and no cap hit in 2027, with roughly $3M in savings.

 

It’s why he will be in the take a pay cut or get cut camp. We will tell him that we save $3M if we cut him so he can either give us that money back or he can take his chances in FA.

16 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

I don't know I would say its uncomfortable, and not sure he is approaching being "washed", but its not been a good season for him, or much of the secondary.  

 

Play up front greatly impacts play on the back, and vice versa.  So for me, I am not yet in the panic mindset on someone like Taron, whose job is inherently harder because we have not been good up front or on the back end of this defense.  

 

If getting Max and the PED duo back, on top of our injured guys (Olive is back, but just got back last game) can help the front 7 and secondary play better, then I think its quite possible we will see Taron play closer to his standards. 

 

That being said, I do think Taron's days here are in jeopardy coming to an end this next offseason unless they rework his deal.  His cap hit takes a big jump for 2026 and also 2027, his age 30 and 31 seasons.  He will either be a cap casualty, or he will get his deal redone.  I can't see him playing again next year under his current deal that runs until 2028 (with 2028 being a void year).  While I think he is capable of more than he has done this year (due to the struggles across the D around him), his best days are likely behind him.  

The problem for Taron is that last year was quite shaky as well.

Its a consistent thing for him over 1.3 seasons now.

[Einstein]

25 minutes ago, stlbills13 said:

I'm ready to move away from always having a nickel on the field anyway. 

Agreed. It helps us but also limits us.

I wouldn't mind McD hiring a vet D coordinator and completely handing over duties to him.

Schwartz may be fired if the Browns have another 6-10 record this year. I would hire him immediately.

[Alphadawg7]

5 minutes ago, FireChans said:

Especially to nitpick, but we can cut TJ next year for a 2026 dead cap hit of 7.75 and no cap hit in 2027, with roughly $3M in savings.

 

It’s why he will be in the take a pay cut or get cut camp. We will tell him that we save $3M if we cut him so he can either give us that money back or he can take his chances in FA.

The problem for Taron is that last year was quite shaky as well.

Its a consistent thing for him over 1.3 seasons now.

 

I dont think the secondary and front 7 was very good last year either though