The Las Vegas Raiders have made several high-profile additions this offseason, but one that has flown under the radar was the trade for cornerback Taron Johnson. The veteran is a former All-Pro, but is coming off a couple of injury-plagued seasons.
That’s likely why the Buffalo Bills were willing to part with him. If he’s healthy, he can still be an impact player in the slot, but the Raiders haven’t even seen him on the practice field yet.
The team has had a great turnout for their recent practices, but Johnson has notably been one of the few players not to suit up. It wasn’t clear exactly why he wasn’t practicing, as the practices are voluntary this time of year.
However, it sounds like he’s having a contract dispute with the team. According to Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Johnson doesn’t like the fact that he has no more guaranteed money left on his contract.
“Per sources: CB Taron Johnson’s absence at Raiders voluntary offseason workouts is contract related,” Bonsignore wrote on X. “The $18M he’s on the books for in ’26 & ’27 is non guaranteed. Makes sense he’s looking for more security.”
It doesn’t sound like Johnson is looking for more money, but he just wants some of his salary guaranteed, so the Raiders can’t cut him loose the second he gets injured again.
Treydan Stukes Can Play Slot Cornerback
The Raiders listed second-round pick Treydan Stukes as a safety when they selected him, so it is likely that is where they see him playing the majority of his career. However, he’s a very versatile defensive back.
If this Johnson contract dispute ends up being a problem, the Raiders could have Stukes play in the slot. That’s not ideal, as they could use him in other ways while Johnson plays in the slot, but it at least gives them some leverage in negotiations.
Will Johnson Skip Mandatory Workouts?
It’s one thing for Johnson to skip the voluntary workouts, but skipping the mandatory ones would be much more notable. At that point, the Raiders could start fining him. It is hard to imagine he is willing to take that step.
There’s almost no way the team is going to give him more money. His only hope is getting some guaranteed money. Losing some of his actual salary would hurt him more than help him in the long run.
Johnson is also new to the team, so he doesn’t have any equity with the franchise. He needs to play this situation carefully, as the Raiders could cut him loose pretty easily.
Las Vegas only did a late-round pick swap with the Bills to get him, so it wouldn’t be a big deal if they had to release him. That’s obviously not what they want, but they also don’t want to be dealing with contract drama with a player who hasn’t taken a snap for the team. This will be a situation to watch closely as the Raiders get closer to mandatory workouts.
New Raiders Vet Skipping Practice Due to Contract Dispute: Report