Finding the Fits: Small-school CB Taron Johnson for Bills

By Rob Rang, NFLDraftScout.com

(This is part of a series -- Finding the Fits -- in which NFLDraftScout.com will review the more intriguing picks made during the 2018 NFL Draft. The goal is to identify one relatively unheralded player per team who appears to be a good schematic fit and, therefore, more likely to be a surprise contributor early in his pro career.)

Buffalo's best fit: Taron Johnson, CB, Weber State, selected No. 121 overall (4th round)

As expected, the majority of post-draft buzz surrounding the Buffalo Bills centers on quarterback Josh Allen. However, the former Wyoming signal-caller is not the only prized rookie plucked from a relatively small school out West that has general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott excited.

The duo collaborated a year ago to lead the Bills to a surprising 9-7 record and trip to the playoffs for the first time since 1999. A big part of Buffalo's stampede last season was the immediate impact made by last year's top pick, cornerback Tre'Davious White, who led all rookies last season with 18 passes broken up, including four interceptions.

In cornerback Taron Johnson, Beane and McDermott have another instinctive, plays-bigger-than-he-looks defensive back with a knack for getting his hands on the ball. The 5-11, 197-pound Johnson played inside and out at Weber State, breaking up an eye-popping 42 passes during his career. Like Allen, he eased questions about his level of competition with an impressive week of practice at the Senior Bowl.

At first glance, it would appear that Johnson has as difficult a path to playing time as any of Buffalo's rookies, including Allen. Prior to the draft, the Bills had already signed veteran cornerbacks Vontae Davis and Phillip Gaines, seemingly addressing this position of concern.

Given the spread concepts run by Josh McDaniels and Adam Gase in New England and Miami, however, opposing defenses often need four or five corners. Johnson possesses the quickness and instincts needed to handle inside coverage duties as well as the physicality, toughness and reliable open-field tackling that McDermott requires of his defensive backs.

Other thoughts on the Bills' 2018 draft class:

While McDermott's success developing defensive backs warrants praise, his work last year with quarterbacks is a concern. Gone, of course, is last year's starter Tyrod Taylor, who was jettisoned to Cleveland. It is worth noting that the Bills lured AJ McCarron away from the Bengals in free agency but if Beane felt a great deal of confidence in him (or second-year quarterback Nathan Peterman), the club would not have traded up for Allen. An offensive line rebuilt with spackle, and a receiver corps that frightens few, means the starting quarterback for the Bills will have his work cut out for him.

There will be plenty of pressure to play Allen early -- and I like his fit in Buffalo -- but McDermott and Beane would be wise to protect the investment made in the young, rocket-armed rookie rather than rush him.

While Allen is mostly expected to learn from the sidelines in 2018, the Bills are hoping that linebacker Tremaine Edmunds provides the immediate impact as a tackler that most expect from a first-round selection.

As with Allen, Beane traded up to land this quarterback on defense at No. 16 overall, an aggressive decision reinforced when McDermott started Edmunds, who just turned 20, at middle linebacker in his club's recent minicamp. The Bills are searching for a new MIKE after allowing Preston Brown to leave for Cincinnati in free agency, after he tied with two others with an NFL-high 144 tackles last season.

Unlike the quarterbacks he faces in practice, Edmunds has the supporting cast to excel as a rookie.

An already solid defensive line was reinforced with veteran run-stuffer Star Lotulelei and edge rusher Trent Murphy, who is expected to move back to his college position of defensive end after playing a lot of stand-up outside linebacker in Washington. Third-rounder Harrison Phillips could have a hard time, initially, finding playing time with so many other gifted big bodies along the defensive line, but the strength, hustle and tenacity he showed at Stanford has often earned him comparisons to current Bills' fan favorite Kyle Williams, a 34-year old entering his 12th NFL season.

Buffalo's 2018 draft class:

1st Round, No. 7 overall: QB Josh Allen, Wyoming

1st Round, No. 16 overall: LB Tremaine Edmunds, Virginia Tech

3rd Round, No. 96 overall: DT Harrison Phillips, Stanford

4th Round, No. 121 overall: CB Taron Johnson, Weber State

5th Round, No. 154 overall: S Siran Neal, Jackson State

5th Round, No. 166 overall: OG Wyatt Teller, Virginia Tech

6th Round, No. 187 overall: WR Ray-Ray McCloud, Clemson

7th Round, No. 255 overall: WR Austin Proehl, North Carolina

Key Undrafted Free Agents Signed:

WR Robert Foster, Alabama

CB Levi Wallace, Alabama

OT Gerhard de Beer, Arizona