Not so fast! And with that, an audible comes into play for the Buffalo Bills and cornerback Taron Johnson. After initially reporting that Johnson was to be released by One Bills Drive, the latest twist has the Las Vegas Raiders swooping in for the longtime “Buffalo Nickel” courtesy of an accounting loophole.
Ian Rapoport revealed that the trade involves “a 6/7 pick swap,” — with Buffalo the likely recipient of the better pick in that scenario. Since Johnson’s release had not yet been made official via the wire, the Bills and Raiders were able to get a deal done.
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Bills reporter Sal Capaccio notes that the parameters of the trade will not positively impact the dead-cap charge One Bills Drive was set to incur with his release. The reason? As Capaccio notes:
“His base salary is picked up by the Raiders, but the Bills were not going to be hit with that, anyway. They are still responsible for effectively the same dead cap charge they were already going to take with a release.”
Following an eight-year career with the Bills that began his rookie season, Johnson seemed destined for free agency as part of Buffalo’s need to get under the salary cap by the start of the new league year. Instead, he’ll avoid an uncertain playing fate and pack his bags for the bright lights of Vegas.
Stay tuned here at Buffalo Rumblings where we’ll have more info on the latest with Taron Johnson as further details become available.
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