While other teams are throwing money out like it’s free during the first few days of the free agency tampering period, the Buffalo Bills have been patient and strategic. Before the tampering period opened, they were the most active team by a long shot.
They re-upped with a lot of their own. They extended their core key pieces in Khalil Shakir, Terrel Bernard, Greg Rousseau, and MVP quarterback, Josh Allen. They continued that when they brought back another one of their own in running back Ty Johnson.
The Bills have officially signed him to a two-year deal worth $5 million. While an underrated player, Johnson is extremely valuable to the Bills offense. Bills Mafia should be thrilled with him being back for many reasons.
Reason 1: OC Joe Brady unlocked Johnson
When Joe Brady took over the offensive coordinator job halfway through the 2023 season, he transformed it. The Bills went from funneling the ball through Stefon Diggs to spreading it all over. With the transformation, Brady unlocked Ty Johnson as a key contributor.
Johnson immediately became the change of pace back and complemented James Cook very well. In two years with the Bills, he’s appeared in 27 games and rushed for 345 yards, one touchdown, and 21 first downs! Included in that are multiple clutch and explosive plays. You could actually argue the 5'10" 210lbs was the Bills' most explosive player in 2024.
Reason 2: Johnson is a stud third-down & receiving back
Johnson’s greatest value is his third-down back ability. He is an excellent pass-catching back-and-pass blocker. One thing that isn’t discussed much is his fluidity in running routes. He can line up out wide and looks like a receiver, and he’s just as good out of the backfield. It’s really hard to find a better third-down back than Johnson in the NFL.
Since joining the Bills he’s caught 25 passes for 346 yards, four touchdowns, and 16 first downs, with a 78.1% catch percentage. Last year he showed up a lot for Josh Allen, including an insane 4th and long touchdown grab against the Broncos in the playoffs.
Johnson was the NFL’s leader in yards per touch last season (based on backs with a minimum of 50 touches). Out of 12 qualifying Bills receivers, Johnson ranked first in EPA per target, and third in receiving EPA, per Anthony Cover1. He was also first in yards per target, second in yards per catch, second in positive play percentage when receiving, and second in first down percentage when receiving. Now the Bills have what is quite possibly their most underrated weapon, locked up for the next two seasons.
Reason 3: Great value for the Bills
For years, the Bills were on the hunt for a back of Johnson’s skill set. They signed J.D. McKissic, but then he changed his mind. James Cook was drafted to be a receiving back but has since ascended into their star lead horse. They were gifted Johnson by their AFC East rival, the New York Jets. Gang Green released him and the Bills immediately picked him up.
The value they got on Johnson in the new contract is really hard to beat. The already reported $5 million seems to be the maximum value for the two-year deal. So when the full details come out and it gets fully broken down, it will likely look even better. While the Bills didn’t draft Johnson back in 2019, you can classify him as a homegrown player, being so that they unlocked him. In regards to that, it’s another example of the Buffalo Bills brass rewarding their guys.