If you think of an underrated player for the Buffalo Bills that does a lot of hard work and gets very little credit, look no further than running back Ty Johnson. Selected in the 6th round in 2019 by the Detroit Lions, Johnson hasn’t been a starter in the league but he is a good complimentary back for an offense.
He only spent one full season in Detroit before joining the New York Jets in 2020, where he would play there until 2022. Johnson signed with the Bills in 2023 and has shown that he can be a serviceable backup for James Cook. Johnson averaged 5.2 yards per carry last season and he had a career high in receiving touchdowns (3).
As part of the trio committee in Buffalo with Cook and Ray Davis, Johnson has shown Bills fans that when #26 comes onto the field, he is bound to make a tough play. Whether it’s gaining yards after contact in-between the tackles, or even catching a back-of-the-endzone pass in the playoffs against the Denver Broncos. He is too valuable for the Bills to lose and Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports agrees.
Ty Johnson listed as one key free agent Bills cannot afford to lose
"Veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas is the bigger name, but this year's free agent crop is full of proven cover men. Johnson is an underrated change-of-pace counterpart to James Cook."Cody Benjamin, CBS Sports
Johnson is one of those players who can come onto the field on third-down and if the Bills need a conversion, he can deliver. Being a back who can deliver a shoulder to get through contact while also being a pass-catching back, Johnson is versatile that the Bills would be foolish to lose.
The Bills have some salary cap restrictions, but Johnson wouldn’t be an expensive player for the Bills to bring back. It’s also important to consider the fact that James Cook has been very vocal about contract demands and if Buffalo doesn’t plan on extending him for after 2025, then bringing back Johnson to pair with Ray Davis makes the most logical sense.
Free agency starts in less than a week so Brandon Beane will need to decide if he wants to bring back Johnson, and if he can bring back financially.