The Las Vegas Raiders will arrive at training camp with a potential competition at nickel cornerback. After not having any consistency there a year ago, general manager John Spytek made two notable offseason additions at the position. He drafted Treydan Stukes with a second-round pick, and also acquired veteran Taron Johnson in a trade with the Buffalo Bills.
Stukes was considered a pro-ready prospect coming out of Arizona. A safety by trade, Stukes made a transition to big nickelback for the Wildcats, a spot he totally thrived in. A sixth-year senior who registered a team-high four interceptions in 2025, he's mature and experienced enough to contribute immediately, if needed.
The presence of Johnson means the Raiders could develop Stukes slowly
though. It's a terrific option for new defensive coordinator Rob Leonard to have. Johnson was acquired from the Bills in a sixth-for-seventh-round-pick-swap, meaning the Raiders effectively got him on a bargain.
Johnson played 541 snaps as a nickel for the Bills last season, per Pro Football Focus' position tracking. The 29-year-old veteran leader played 350+ snaps in the slot for the Bills in every campaign dating back to 2018. The Raiders will benefit from his experience.
Stukes is an exciting rookie with playmaking potential, but the reliable Johnson opens up all kinds of possibilities for Coach Leonard.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Raiders can bring Treydan Stukes along slowly thanks to reliable vet
