Taron Johnson
2020 Season Stats: 16 games played (11 starts), 94 total tackles, 5 tackles for a loss, 3 QB hits, 1 interception, 1 defensive touchdown, 7 passes defended
The nickel position is a critical position to this defense and is on the field the majority of the game. The Buffalo Bills understood that and even created a spot on their coaching staff just for the nickel.
Taron Johnson has been the team’s starting nickel for most of the past three years but started this year off a little shaky. It got to the point where the coaching staff actually benched Johnson in Week 6 against the Kansas City Chiefs, in favor of Cam Lewis.
Lewis would end up suffering an injury early in that game which opened the door for Johnson to return. This was a turning point for Johnson and he played some of his best football down the stretch for this defense.
He made arguably the two biggest plays all season for the Bills when he returned an interception for a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers and then returned an interception in the playoffs against the Baltimore Ravens more than 100 yards for a touchdown.
Grade: B-