Buffalo Bills position room preview: Cornerback

Free agency addition: Kevin Johnson

A first-round selection in the 2015 NFL Draft, Kevin Johnson was expected to fix the Houston Texans’ secondary. But, injuries halted those efforts, as the 26-year-old has finished two out of four seasons on injured reserved. Nonetheless, the Bills saw the promise in the oft-injured corner, signing him to a one-year deal after his release from Houston.

Johnson showed promise in his rookie season, starting ten games and tallying a pick, nine pass deflections, and 52 tackles. He then started his second season on a good note, posting a high Pro Football Focus 81.2 grade in his first six games before sustaining a season-ending foot injury. Since then, he hasn’t quite been the same; starting five games in two seasons.

Now on the Bills, Johnson hopes to regain the early-career form that made him promising for the Texans. So far, he’s on track to do so; he’s healthy and motivated to steal the No. 2 cornerback job from Wallace. The cornerback was a star of OTAs, as head coach Sean McDermott said in his most recent press-conference;

"What I’ve seen to this point is a young man who is extremely focused, works extremely hard, is smart, plays the game the way that we want it to be played. — To this point I’ve loved his mindset."

For a cornerback looking to put the past behind him, Johnson appears to have brought the mindset he needs. The 6-foot, 185-pound cornerback was praised as a prospect for defying his light frame by providing Wake Forrest with physicality, confidence, and aggressive. Though that physical, aggressive nature is still there, his confidence faded in Houston. Hopefully, in Buffalo, McDermott and Co. can bring it out and reap the benefits.