Whether Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson is worth $17 million in 2017 remains to be seen.
But Rams management may not yet be convinced that Johnson is worth more money or time.
L.A. general manager Les Snead recently told the Los Angeles Times that the team could use its franchise tag on the sixth-year player for a second consecutive season.
“We like what Trumaine offers and we don’t want him to leave the building,” Snead told the Times. “We’ve got a decision to make whether signing him long term or franchise him for the second year in a row, which we are OK doing.”
After letting fellow cornerback Janoris Jenkins bolt via free agency to the New York Giants in 2016, the Rams tagged Johnson, who had 71 tackles with seven interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) in 2015.
But Johnson suffered without Jenkins’ presence in the L.A. backfield last season. Johnson had 57 tackles and just one interception. His total pass deflections also decreased from 17 in 2015 to 15 in 2016.
The problem in letting Johnson test free agency is the fact that the Rams have little depth behind Johnson at cornerback. To add a free-agent cornerback, the team likely would have to overpay and offer a multiyear deal.
If Johnson’s 2016 slump bleeds into 2017, the Rams would not owe Johnson anything.
Los Angeles must decide by Wednesday whether to use the franchise tag on Johnson. Having him locked up could help the franchise focus on other issues to address through the draft and free agency.
The team has a lot of holes to fill. And because it paid Johnson some $15 million last season, retagging him in 2017 won’t break the bank.
But he still has to produce. More than he did in 2016.
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