Update:
Alden Gonzalez reports that while nothing is official right now, the Rams will “most likely” franchise CB Trumaine Johnson before Wednesday’s deadline.
- ESPN’s Dan Graziano also reports that the Rams are expected to use the franchise tag on Johnson for the second year in a row.
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According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Rams are expected to use their franchise tag on CB Trumaine Johnson before Wednesday’s deadline to tag free agents.
The franchise tag will run the Rams around $16.8 million fully guaranteed for the 2017 season, but won’t prevent them from negotiating a long-term contract before the July deadline to discuss long-term deals with franchise players.
Jason La Canfora mentioned last week that the more he thought about it and the size of the upcoming free agent class, the more he believes the Rams will ultimately use their tag on Johnson again, even though it will cost them 20 percent more than the normal cornerback tag.
Johnson, 27, is a former third-round pick of the Rams back in 2012. He played out his rookie contract with the Rams before being franchised back in February and made $13.952 million fully guaranteed under the tag.
In 2016, Johnson appeared in 14 games for the Rams and recorded 58 total tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery, and 12 pass defenses. Pro Football Focus rated him as the No. 28 overall cornerback out of 120 qualifying players.
We have him featured in our Top 100 – 2017 Free Agents list.
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