S John Johnson
The Rams have a lengthy history of not paying their own defensive backs, a list that includes Janoris Jenkins, Trumaine Johnson, E.J. Gaines, T.J. McDonald and now Marcus Peters. Could Johnson buck that trend like Ramsey’s expected to? It’s definitely possible, and committing to him long-term now would show how the team values defensive backs.
Johnson is one of the best young safeties in football, showing the ability to play either free or strong safety and man or zone coverage. His well-rounded skill set makes him an asset for the Rams and someone they should keep around for the foreseeable future.
The safety market has exploded in the last couple of years, with Eddie Jackson, Kevin Byard, Tyrann Mathieu and Landon Collins all making at least $14 million per year. Johnson is probably looking at a deal in the range of $13-plus million per year, which is a high cost for a position the Rams don’t seem to value.