INDIANAPOLIS — The Los Angeles Rams placed the nonexclusive franchise tag on Trumaine Johnson for a second straight year Wednesday, a move that puts him on track to be the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback in 2017.
The two sides still have until July 15 to come to terms on a long-term extension, but that seems unlikely.
Johnson, a third-round pick out of Montana in 2012, is the first cornerback to be tagged in back-to-back years since Charles Woodson in 2004 and ’05. Johnson made $13.952 million when he was tagged in 2016 and will now get a 20 percent raise that will put his upcoming salary at about $16.75 million.
The Rams lost their former primary cornerback, Janoris Jenkins, last offseason, when he signed a five-year, $62.5 million contract with the Giants. They also lost free safety Rodney McLeod to the Eagles, and now their strong safety, T.J. McDonald, is set to be an unrestricted free agent.
Tagging Johnson is a response to how quickly the Rams have lost key depth throughout their secondary, but also an indication for how much they value him.
Johnson, 27, has allowed only 10 touchdowns and a 72.6 passer rating across 338 targets throughout his career, according to Pro Football Focus. He intercepted 15 passes from 2012 to ’15, tied for fourth in the NFL during that span.
His production slipped a bit this past season. Johnson’s interceptions dropped from seven in 2015 to one in 2016. Among the 81 corners who were on the field for at least 50 percent of defensive snaps, Johnson ranked 37th in snaps per catch allowed (11) and 34th in QB rating when targeted (89.4).
But at 6-foot-2 and 208 pounds, Johnson is the only Rams corner with size and length. The next four on their depth chart — E.J. Gaines, Lamarcus Joyner, Blake Countess and Troy Hill — are 5-10 or shorter.
Franchising Johnson leaves the Rams with somewhere in the neighborhood of $20 million in salary cap space, with needs at receiver, offensive line, linebacker and in the secondary.
