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NFL NFL Free Agency Taron Johnson was a 2018 fourth-round pick of the Bills. Mark Konezny / Imagn Images With each offseason decision, the Buffalo Bills are distancing themselves from their previous regime a bit more. That took another big step on Friday, as they released longtime starting nickel cornerback Taron Johnson, the team announced. Johnson, who turns 30 in July, quickly became a staple of the Bills’ defense when he arrived in 2018. And when healthy, he spent the majority of his tenure in the starting lineup. He solidified his role after a brief benching in 2020, which fueled him to become one of their most important defenders for the rest of that season and for several seasons after. Advertisement In that same season, Johnson made one of the most memorable postseason plays in franchise history. With the Bills leading by seven points at the end of the third quarter, Johnson intercepted Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson at the goal line. He returned it the length of the field for a pick six, giving the Bills a two-touchdown lead and catapulting them to the AFC Championship Game for the first time in 27 years. Johnson was a mainstay in former head coach Sean Mc Dermott’s defense, becoming an indispensable piece that made him an every-down player, serving as the team’s third linebacker even against bigger personnel packages. The change is one of many underway for a scheme under new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard, who noted that they will use their nickel defenders differently than the Mc Dermott regime did. That raised questions about how Johnson would fit into the new scheme and contributed to his release. At this point, the Johnson cut is expected to be a normal one and not a post-June 1 release. That will limit the savings for the 2026 offseason to $1. 9 million, according to Over The Cap, with those savings coming before a new contract takes its place in the top 51. The Bills also released wide receiver Curtis Samuel in an expected and cost-cutting move on Friday, according to a league source. Samuel spent two injury-plagued seasons in Buffalo after signing as a free agent during the 2024 offseason. In addition to making the Johnson and Samuel cuts official on Friday, the Bills announced they released safety Taylor Rapp and cornerback Dane Jackson. When healthy, Rapp was a starting safety for the Bills over the last two seasons. Johnson’s release creates a massive void at nickel for the Bills. Not only is Johnson gone, but his direct backup, Cam Lewis, is also a free agent. The nickel position was very important to Leonhard’s previous team, the Denver Broncos, and he is likely to implement a similar defensive system in Buffalo. Advertisement The Broncos invested heavily in the nickel position each of the last two offseasons by drafting Jahdae Barron with their first-round pick in 2025 and then issuing a second-round restricted free-agent tender to Ja’Quan Mc Millian this offseason, with the expectation of continuing that working relationship. As of now, the only potential options for nickel currently on Buffalo’s roster are 2025 fifth-round pick Jordan Hancock, who spent most of the year playing safety last season, and reserve/futures signing Te’Cory Couch. Along with edge rusher, nickel corner has become one of the Bills’ most pressing needs this offseason, and they could look to address the nickel position as early as free agency next week. There are also some quality nickel options available in the 2026 NFL Draft who could be available to them in the first few rounds. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle Joe Buscaglia is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering the Buffalo Bills. Joe has covered the team since 2010. He spent his first five years on the beat at WGR Sports Radio 550 and the next four years at WKBW-TV in Buffalo. A native of Hamburg, N. Y. , Buscaglia is a graduate of Buffalo State University. Follow Joe on Twitter @Joe Buscaglia