It’s time to have an uncomfortable conversation about Taron

[GerstAusGosheim]

Or maybe the coaching sucks. He was the best nickel in the league 2 years ago when Leslie was here.

[Dan Darragh]

1 hour ago, Einstein said:

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

After yesterday, Schwartz might get the key to the city.  I want him as our HC

[Buffalo716]

He's at the end of his life as a slot corner 

 

8 year starter basically playing as a hybrid 3rd linebacker in the nickel a bunch 

 

He just doesn't have the juice anymore.. that doesn't mean he can't make a couple of big plays down the stretch when the game gets condensed in January and February 

 

He also this is the perfect time to make that swap to free safety.. he still could get it done there for a couple years.. Johnson and bishop can maybe be something

[Ray Finkel]

1 hour ago, Mat68 said:

Move him to Safety.  Play Hancock at Nickel.  With the run defense as it is use more 4-3 over looks with Hoecht at the SAM.  He has been in the defense forever and think he could handle the conversion.  More athleticism and box responsibilities not too much different than Nickel.   

I love that idea!

[DrDawkinstein]

1 hour ago, GerstAusGosheim said:

Or maybe the coaching sucks. He was the best nickel in the league 2 years ago when Leslie was here.

 

That fact he was 27 at the time and now almost 30 is the bigger difference.

 

1 hour ago, Ray Finkel said:

I love that idea!

 

Bills fans want to move EVERYONE to safety. Tre White, Rasul Douglas, now Taron. Just get a Safety that can play Safety.

 

He's not worth $11M at Safety next year either

[Sojourner]

If it is time to move on from Taron, does he hold any value in a trade? 

[The Jokeman]

1 minute ago, Sojourner said:

If it is time to move on from Taron, does he hold any value in a trade? 

He'd probably get us a 6th Rounder if gave him and our 7th Rounder up.

[NoSaint]

3 hours ago, LabattBlue said:

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

the 5.45 is if we wait until after 2026. Unless there’s a major shift, we can’t let him play under that contract next year

[Mr. WEO]

He was getting roasted frequently last year. 
 

For the  draft capital Beane blows on DBs, Taron and Tre are quite the 1-2 punch right now. 
 

somebody post that Big Baller Beane pic right now lol!

Edited 6 hours ago by Mr. WEO

[NoSaint]

2 hours ago, GerstAusGosheim said:

Or maybe the coaching sucks. He was the best nickel in the league 2 years ago when Leslie was here.

Older, heavy impact and not a durable frame. 
 

we should be expecting him to decline.

[Sojourner]

5 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

He was getting roasted frequently last year. 
 

Force draft capital Beane bows on DBs, Taron and Tre are quite the 1-2 punch right now. 
 

somebody post that Big Baller Beane pic right now lol!

For sure. Once he returned from that injury he looked off and had trouble covering routes he previously had in his back pocket. 

[L Ron Burgundy]

The entire defense is assss.  Can we move him to safety and plug someone else at ncb?  Don't know if it's realistic but he'd be better at safety than who we have most likely. 

[billsfan_34]

4 hours ago, FireChans said:

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.

He is washed and noticed last season.

[boyst]

Jack Lawson is here next year to fill the big nickel position in the hybrid defense we have, or at least I think that might have been the plan before everything else fell apart. 

 

Mount Milano is a sneeze away from career ending injury, Terrell Bernard is too damn light in the loafers to sustain the intensity that he plays with, next year we're going to need a lot of help at linebacker. Dorian Williams isn't it either 

 

That's why I'm not against getting a new head coach to give us a new defense but that's beside the point. 

 

Our defense needs revamped. 

[oldmanfan]

It’s always sad to see vets slow down.  For PFF fans, Lewis was the highest rated guy on the D last week.  Perhaps Cam goes in there and Hancock to safety.

[BuffaloBillsGospel2014]

Beane and McDermott have to be better at identifying when their players are losing a step, you could see it last season and should have been dealt this past offseason for a pick or player, I find it hard to believe that all 32 teams wouldn't have wanted Taron's services. Like many of you have stated he's been a great player for us for awhile now and it sucks but it's part of the profession and also part of Beane/McDermotts job. 

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

The problem with Taron being underperforming is the defense basically needs him to be elite. He is the cog to the entire D.

[DeepPass]

4 hours ago, Bermuda Triangle said:

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

Father Time has caught up to so many Bills to include Tre White ,Matt Milano, Taylor Rapp, Jordan Poyer, Joey Bosa and more.  It's like the 1966 Bills!

[HOUSE]

When does this become uncomfortable?

I keep reading it over and over

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Have to agree with OP

 

I am pretty sure he was my pre-season choice for player most likely to regress

 

He's made too many tackles and his body is slowing down.