Trumaine Johnson - Pro Football Rumors

Rams May Use Transition Tag On Trumaine Johnson

February 19th, 2016 at 9:43pm CST by Dallas Robinson

If the Rams can’t work out a deal with pending free agent cornerback Trumaine Johnson, they will look at the option of using the transition tag, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Twitter link). Los Angeles has until March 1 to decide if it wants to use either the franchise or the transition tag on any of its free agents.

The transition tag — as explained in this PFR Glossary entry — entitles the player to either the average of the 10 highest-paid players at his position or 120% of his previous year’s salary, whichever is greater (in Johnson’s case, the former would be the higher figure). For corners, the charge is expected to be around $11.7MM for 2016. Johnson would be free to negotiate with other clubs, and if he signs an offer sheet that the Rams decide not to match, Los Angeles would receive no draft pick compensation.

The 26-year-old Johnson appeared in 14 games last season (he missed two late-season contests due to injury), playing 906 defensive snaps. He defensed 17 passes and intercepted seven, one of which he returned he returned 58 yards for a touchdown in Week 13. Johnson, a former third-round pick, was also a darling of the advanced metrics, as Pro Football Focus graded him as the No. 19 corner in 2015 — among free agent CBs, he came in fifth.

Johnson isn’t the only defensive back whom the Rams might look to re-sign this offseason, as cornerback Janoris Jenkins and safety Rodney McLeod are also headed for free agency. Elsewhere on the defense, lineman William Hayes is set to hit the open market, but Thomas reports (via Twitter) that Los Angeles is confident it can re-sign Hayes. We also heard earlier tonight that the Rams want to retain free agent linebacker Mark Barron.

The Rams will head into the offseason with more than $58MM in projected cap space, a number that was augmented by today’s release of defensive end Chris Long, linebacker James Laurinaitis, and tight end Jared Cook.

Jason Fitzgerald on Kaepernick, Free Agency, Rams

December 19th, 2015 at 9:00am CST by Ben Levine

Jason Fitzgerald of OvertheCap.com answered a variety of questions on Twitter last night. The conversation focused on the upcoming offseason, and the writer did his best to make some early predictions. We’ve compiled the best of them, which you can find below…

Fitzgerald is convinced that the 49ers will be able to trade quarterback Colin Kaepernick. With a maximum $14.3MM cap hit (due to the $1MM savings if the team decides to deactivate him), the writer believes the Eagles could be a good fit for the embattled star.
Among the big-name players who could switch teams in free agency are (according to Fitzgerald) Alex Mack, Matt Forte, Russell Okung, Prince Amukamara, and Lamar Miller.
On the flip, Fitzgerald could imagine several big names being cut loose by their current teams, including Jamaal Charles, Jimmy Graham and DeMarcus Ware.
One of Trumaine Johnson and Janoris Jenkins will be back with the Rams next year, with Fitzgerald predicting an $8MM contract for Jenkins and $6MM for Johnson.
Assuming Marshawn Lynch‘s tenure in Seattle is over, Fitzgerald could envision the Patriots pursuing the running back. However, the writer is uncertain whether New England would have much interest.

2015 Proven Performance Escalator Raises

January 16th, 2015 at 8:21pm CST by Dallas Robinson

According to the NFL’s contractual bargaining agreement, players drafted in rounds three though seven are entitled to raises during the fourth year of their respective rookie contracts. The pay bumps are tied to playing time — a player must have played in 35% of his team’s offensive or defensive snaps in two of his first three seasons, or averaged 35% playing time in said snaps for the duration of his first three years in the league. If one of these thresholds is met, the player’s salary is elevated to the level of that year’s restricted free agent qualifying offer — that figure was $1.431MM last year, and will inflate commensurate with the salary cap increase. Players selected in the first or second round, undrafted free agents, and kickers/punters are ineligible for the proven performance escalator.

Here are the players who will see their 2015 salary rise due to the PPE, courtesy of Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap.

Bengals: George Iloka, S; Mohamed Sanu, WR

Bills: Nigel Bradham, LB

Broncos: Malik Jackson, DL; Danny Trevathan, LB;

Browns: Billy Winn, DL

Cardinals: Bobby Massie, T

Chargers: Johnnie Troutman, G

Colts: Dwayne Allen, TE; T.Y. Hilton, WR

Dolphins: Lamar Miller, RB; Olivier Vernon, DE

Eagles: Brandon Boykin, CB; Nick Foles; QB

Falcons: Lamar Holmes, T

Jets: Demario Davis, LB; Antonio Allen, DB