The Buffalo Bills announced on March 6 the release of cornerback Taron Johnson, safety Taylor Rapp, wide receiver Curtis Samuel, and cornerback Dane Jackson ahead of free agency.
The move affects several key players who have contributed to the team in recent seasons. The decision comes as the Bills prepare for roster changes before the start of the new league year.
Johnson completed his eighth season with Buffalo in 2025, appearing in 13 games with eight starts. He recorded 57 tackles, four passes defensed and one tackle for loss last season. Over his eight-year career with the Bills, Johnson registered 572 tackles, 48 passes defensed, 23 tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits, eight forced fumbles, six interceptions and three fumble recoveries. He was recognized as one of the top nickel cornerbacks in the NFL and earned second team All-Pro honors in 2023. Johnson is also remembered for a notable defensive play: a 101-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Ravens during the 2020-21 NFL Playoffs. Drafted by Buffalo in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Weber State, he played in 113 games with 87 starts over eight seasons.
Rapp joined Buffalo after starting his career with the Los Angeles Rams as a second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. In three seasons with Buffalo, he logged 158 tackles and three interceptions over 36 games and was placed on injured reserve on October 24, 2025 due to a knee injury that limited him to six games last season. Over his seven-year career between both teams, Rapp totaled nearly five hundred tackles along with twelve interceptions.
Samuel leaves after two seasons with Buffalo where he caught thirty-eight passes for three hundred thirty-four yards and two touchdowns across twenty regular season games. Despite injuries during regular play, Samuel made significant contributions during postseason runs including six catches for eighty-one yards and two touchdowns during the team’s playoff campaign.
Jackson ends his second stint with Buffalo after playing three regular season games and two postseason contests last year. Originally drafted by Buffalo in the seventh round of the 2020 draft, Jackson spent most of last year on the practice squad before being promoted to active roster prior to playoffs where he recorded four tackles across five games.
