In less than surprising news, the Los Angeles Rams have officially placed the franchise tag on cornerback Trumaine Johnson for the second consecutive year.
#Rams place franchise tag on CB @Trujohnson2
🔖 » https://t.co/8VCzaL3mQn pic.twitter.com/UfOElOMJ81
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) March 1, 2017
If signed, this means that Johnson will earn nearly $16 million in guaranteed money for the 2017 season. Of course, the hope here is that the two sides can work out a long-term extension before this comes to fruition.
It’s likely of the non-exclusive variety, meaning another team could swoop in and sign Johnson to an offer sheet while sending two first-round picks back to the Rams in return. That’s a highly unlikely scenario at this point.
Johnson, 27, is coming off a 2016 campaign that saw him record 57 tackles, an interception and 11 passes defended.
The former third-round pick from Montana is the first cornerback to be franchised in consecutive seasons since Charles Woodson back in 2004 and 2005.