Trumaine Johnson - Pro Football Rumors

West Notes: Broncos, Charles, Riley, Rams

May 22nd, 2017 at 9:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

More details are available about Jamaal Charles‘ Broncos contract, courtesy of 9News’ Mike Klis. The former two-time All-Pro running back signed a one-year deal worth $1MM base value, with the pact including several incentives, as Klis reported Sunday. More specifically, the former Chiefs starter has escalators tied to his performance and the Broncos’, with that portion of the contract totaling $1.25MM if all are achieved.

Should the running back gain 500 all-purpose yards, he will earn $100K. For surpassing the 750-yard barrier, it’s a $300K bump. For going over 1,000 yards from scrimmage, the 30-year-old Charles will see $500K. If Charles manages to turn back the clock and overcome a string of knee issues, Kansas City’s all-time leading rusher stands to earn $1MM in incentives by exceeding 1,400 yards from scrimmage. Charles has finished with 1,300-plus yards from scrimmage five times, but the last came in 2014. Charles hitting these incentives and the Broncos making the playoffs would continually bring bigger bonuses. The 1,000-yard playoffs bonus is $650K, for example.

The Broncos took out waivers on both of Charles’ knees, Klis reports. Each was operated on last year due to problems in each of the back’s menisci. This came after Charles underwent reconstructive knee surgery in 2015.

Here’s the latest from some of the league’s westernmost franchises.

Perry Riley received steady playing time despite being picked up during the season, and the Raiders attempted to gauge what it would take to bring back the middle linebacker, Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle reports (on Twitter). It sounds like the negotiations progressed well, with numbers being exchanged, but Tafur reports the sides couldn’t agree on a figure that would bring Riley back for a second Raiders year. Reggie McKenzie said earlier this month the door isn’t closed on that prospect, but Tafur said the team will attempt to see what it has on its defensive second level before revisiting a Riley reunion. The former Redskins starter will be going into his age-29 season. The Raiders did not use a high draft pick on a linebacker and have several uncertain cogs vying for time in the middle alongside Bruce Irvin and UFA addition Jelani Jenkins.
The Rams‘ cap situation won’t serve as an impediment to what would surely be a landmark extension for Aaron Donald, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter). This is interesting because the Rams are just $2.142MM under the cap, according to OverTheCap. Gonzalez offers that a Trumaine Johnson extension would help free up space, with the cornerback tethered to a $16.74MM cap figure, but Les Snead said the team won’t hold extension talks with Johnson until after OTAs conclude. Gonzalez also posits that Donald could look to compromise on a deal, with the Rams agreeing to raise his salary before an extension kicks in after the 2018 season. That said, it would likely have to be a considerable bump for such a sacrifice to be a consideration for Donald’s camp considering how high the two-time All-Pro’s value is presently.
The Broncos handed out a $20K guarantee to UDFA safety Jamal Carter, and Klis reports that agreement — split up into a $10K signing bonus and $10K base guarantee — is the most the team has promised a UDFA rookie in years. Carter attended Miami and was viewed as a possible Day 3 pick. The Broncos also gave a $12,500K signing bonus to fellow UDFA safety Orion Stewart (Baylor), which is the largest bonus the team has authorized to a post-draft signee since return man Isaiah Burse received that $12.5K amount in 2014. Denver spent two draft choices on safeties last year, in Justin Simmons and Will Parks, and has Darian Stewart signed long-term. T.J. Ward is entering a contract year. Denver also gave defensive tackle Tyrique Jarrett (Pitt) $10K to sign, per Klis.

Schefter On Saints, Rams, Trumaine Johnson

April 27th, 2017 at 12:38pm CST by Zachary Links

Adam Schefter of ESPN.com has published his final notebook before the draft. Here’s a quick look at the highlights:

A few weeks ago, the Saints were willing to trade what was thought to be a second-round pick to the Rams for franchise tendered cornerback Trumaine Johnson. However, Johnson was unwilling to sign a long-term deal with New Orleans because of his desire to remain in L.A. The Rams have pivoted away from Johnson trade talk, but Schefter wonders aloud if a team could gamble by trading for him without a long-term pact in place. Personally, I can’t imagine a scenario in which a team is willing to give up significant draft capital to the Rams without a multi-year contract for Johnson. It’s also hard to see the Rams settling for, say, a mid-round pick. It’s hard to see Johnson playing anywhere other than L.A. in 2017.
Before he underwent wrist surgery Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly visited the Chiefs and also had visits planned with the Seahawks and Bills, Schefter hears. Those teams still represent intriguing fits for Kelly, Schefter argues.
One NFL executive predicts that four quarterbacks would be drafted in the first round and “7-8 teams will take (quarterbacks) in first two rounds.” If it were a deeper class, the exec says, he’d be predicting ten QBs inside of the first 64 picks.

Patriots’ Butler, Rams’ Johnson Staying Put

April 24th, 2017 at 9:36am CST by Zachary Links

Two of the league’s top cornerbacks have been the subject of trade rumors this offseason, but it sounds like both players will be staying put for 2017. The Patriots are unlikely to move Malcolm Butler and the Rams are unlikely to trade Trumaine Johnson, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links).

The Saints and Butler have agreed to terms on multi-year deal in the event that a trade can be completed, but the two teams are too far apart on compensation to get a trade done. Realistically, any trade would have to come together before this week’s draft since the Patriots do not want to deal the cornerback for 2018 draft compensation. The Saints, meanwhile, are very high on the talent in this year’s class and want to hold on to their first three picks. The clock is ticking and things have not progressed enough over the last six weeks for a deal to come together, so it sounds like the Butler drama will be put on hold until March of next year.

The Rams, meanwhile, have pivoted away from trade talks and are now mulling the possibility of an extension for Johnson. Johnson, 27, is now scheduled to earn a fully guaranteed base salary of $16.742MM after being hit with a second consecutive franchise tender. An extension would allow Los Angeles to smooth out that cap hit over the next few years. The Rams were discussing Johnson with “multiple teams” when free agency started, but the Browns are the only club to really get linked to him.

Rams May Explore Trumaine Johnson Extension

April 9th, 2017 at 1:33pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Rams would have preferred to trade franchise-tagged cornerback Trumaine Johnson before their offseason program begins on Monday, and while a deal is still possible, Los Angeles may now attempt to work out an extension with Johnson prior to the July 15 deadline, according to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com.

Johnson, 27, quickly signed his free agent tender after it was assigned, and is now scheduled to earn a fully guaranteed base salary of $16.742MM. Because Johnson was also tagged last year, he’ll rake in 120% of his 2016 paycheck. That money will all come in the form of base salary, so any club that acquires Johnson would be responsible for that total.

A long-term deal, meanwhile, would allow the Rams to lower Johnson’s exorbitant cap charge by moving a significant amount of guarantees into a signing bonus, which would be prorated on the salary cap over several seasons. As Gonzalez notes, Los Angles has several important players set to reach free agency in the next two years — including Aaron Donald, Alec Ogletree, and Lamarcus Joyner — and the extra cap space would ease the task of retaining them.

The Rams were reportedly discussing Johnson with “multiple teams” when free agency opened, but no deal ever came to fruition. So far, the only club that’s even been tangentially linked to the Johnson talks is the Browns.

Latest On Rams, Trumaine Johnson

March 10th, 2017 at 9:07am CST by Zachary Links

This week, Dwayne Allen was traded from to the Colts to the Patriots and Houston unloaded Brock Osweiler‘s contract in a unique trade with the Browns. At the same time, the football world continues to buzz about a potential Brandin Cooks deal that could send the Saints wide receiver to the Patriots – perhaps with cornerback Malcolm Butler involved – or the Titans. Between all of that and the mountain of free agency news, you might have forgotten about rumors of the Rams discussing cornerback Trumaine Johnson with rival clubs.

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Johnson could still be on the move, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Rams are still speaking with “multiple teams” about a deal.

So far, the Browns are the only specific team that has been linked to the standout corner. Johnson, who is signed to a franchise tender for a second consecutive season, would mark a major upgrade to the secondary for any club. With A.J. Bouye off the board, Johnson is unquestionably better than any cornerback remaining on the open market.

The Rams were expected to kickstart extension talks with Johnson sooner rather than later in order to try and smooth out his cap hit for the coming season. Instead, they could unload his pending one-year salary in a trade and get some draft compensation in return. Trade buzz usually fizzles in the NFL, but things are different now that so many clubs have extra cap space to work with.

NFC Rumors: Rams, 49ers, Lions, Saints

March 8th, 2017 at 9:03pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Rams are receiving “significant interest” as they attempt to trade franchise-tagged cornerback Trumaine Johnson, per Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News (Twitter link). As of yet, the only club to be directly linked to the Johnson discussions is the Browns, and even that report from Ian Rapoport of NFL.com was seemingly tangential and not indicative of definitive interest. Johnson is set to earn nearly $17MM in 2017 under his second consecutive franchise tender.

Here’s more from the NFC:

Free agent defensive tackle Terrell McClain is generating “a lot of interest” from the 49ers, writes Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News. McClain is coming off the best season of his career, as he started more 12 or more games for the first time since 2012. In 15 starts, McClain put up 39 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. He’s also been linked to Atlanta, Seattle, Washington, and Miami.
The Lions reached out to offensive tackle Mike Remmers before signing Ricky Wagner, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Remmers isn’t an elite tackle like Wagner, but he can play both the left and right side and has started 32 games for Carolina over the past two seasons. He rates as PFR’s No. 10 free agent offensive tackle.
Although the Saints have interest in retaining linebacker Michael Mauti, a deal may not come together until later in free agency, according to Joel Erickson of the Advocate (Twitter link). Mauti, 27, played in eight games for New Orleans last season before being placed on the NFI list with an intestinal issue. While he’s not a contributor on defense, Mauti did play 35% of the Saints’ special teams snaps despite only managing a half-season.
The meeting between the Vikings and controversial running back prospect Joe Mixon went “very well,” tweets Matt Miller of Bleacher Report. Mixon will meet with the Raiders next, per Miller, after posting a successful Pro Day this afternoon.

Browns Involved In Trumaine Johnson Talks?

March 7th, 2017 at 7:27pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Browns may be one team to “keep an eye on” as the Rams attempt to trade franchise-tagged cornerback Trumaine Johnson, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Cleveland makes sense as a potential destination for Johnson on a number of levels. For one, the Browns now employ former Los Angeles defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, under whom Johnson performed with aplomb during the past several seasons. Second, Cleveland boasts more than $100MM in cap space, meaning it could either allow Johnson to play out his franchise tender at a cost of nearly $17MM or sign him to an extension.

At present, the Browns’ secondary depth chart is exceptionally barren behind No. 1 corner Joe Haden, who himself has dealt with injuries and ineffectiveness in recent years. Cleveland recently released veteran defensive back Tramon Williams, leaving Jamar Taylor, Briean Boddy-Calhoun, and Trey Caldwell as the other corners on a defense that ranked 30th in DVOA against the pass.

The Rams, for their part, likely don’t view Johnson as a perfect fit for new defensive play-caller Wade Phillips‘ scheme. Phillips runs a 3-4 front that relies on man coverage in the back-end, while Johnson has always played better in a zone scheme with help over the top.

Rams Discussing Trumaine Johnson Trade

March 7th, 2017 at 2:01pm CST by Zachary Links

The Rams are in discussions with several teams about potentially trading franchised cornerback Trumaine Johnson, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

Johnson was tagged for the second year in a row, giving him a one-year, $16.742MM tender. The Rams and the 27-year-old corner have until July 15 to agree to an extension, but it sounds like he could be shipped out before that point.

If the Rams do trade Johnson, it’s likely that they will pursue some of this year’s top available cornerbacks. Last year, the Rams let Janoris Jenkins leave via free agency and their pass defense suffered tremendously. Some of this year’s biggest available names include A.J. Bouye, Logan Ryan, Stephon Gilmore, Morris Claiborne, and Dre Kirkpatrick. We also consider Prince Amukamara, Brandon Carr, Terence Newman, Nickell Robey-Coleman (recently released), and Kayvon Webster to be among the ten best CBs on the market.

The Rams’ other cornerbacks under contract are Lamarcus Joyner, E.J. Gaines, Blake Countess, Troy Hill, and Michael Jordan (no, not that Michael Jordan).

In 2016, Johnson had 57 total tackles and one interception in 14 games. In the year prior, he racked up 71 total tackles and seven interceptions. Johnson’ position as Pro Football Focus’ No. 26 cornerback last season is nothing to sneeze at, but he probably didn’t perform quite at the level expected of him.

Trumaine Johnson Signs Franchise Tender

March 6th, 2017 at 2:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Given the franchise tag for a second straight season, Trumaine Johnson didn’t complicate matters regarding his 2017 status. The sixth-year cornerback signed his $16.742MM franchise tender today, Peter Schrager of FoxSports.com reports (on Twitter).

That figure makes Johnson the league’s second-highest-paid cornerback in 2017, behind only Josh Norman. Johnson wasn’t expected to be a long holdout regarding the tag, as he’ll make more money than he did last season due to the franchise tag rules mandating 120% increases for players tagged a second time. The Rams and the 27-year-old corner have until July 15 to agree to an extension.

The Rams used the tag here on the former third-round pick to avoid losing talented cornerbacks in consecutive years. Janoris Jenkins did not make the St. Louis-to-Los Angeles move with the Rams, instead departing for New York on a $12.5MM-AAV deal. In 2016, Johnson had 57 total tackles and one interception in 14 games. In the year prior, he racked up 71 total tackles and seven interceptions. He graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 26 corner in 2016.

Los Angeles has $20.2MM in cap space. A Johnson extension would expand that figure, but as of now, that near-$17MM amount goes on the Rams’ books, limiting their free agent pursuit.

NFC Rumors: 49ers, Rams, Donald

March 2nd, 2017 at 2:41pm CST by Zachary Links

49ers GM John Lynch won’t rule out approaching another team about a quarterback trade.

“We’re not closing the door on any options,” Lynch admitted (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Facebook). “We have the number 2 pick and that’s a valuable asset. Fortunately for Kyle (Shanahan) and I, we weren’t part of that 2-14 season. And so now we get to walk in and the good side of that is we have the number 2 pick, and I think that opens a lot of doors for people to try to talk to us about that pick, as well. Or we can sit back and get a really talented player right there, so we’re excited about that.”

Of course, the 49ers have been heavily connected to Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins. However, they’d have to give up a ton to pry him away in addition to giving him a lucrative new extension. The latest word is that the Niners are unwilling to go that far to get a QB.

Here’s more from the NFC as news continues to pour in from the combine:

49ers GM John Lynch says that he would have released Colin Kaepernick had he not opted out (Twitter link via SiriusXM).
Rams GM Les Snead says extension talks for defensive tackle Aaron Donald are “definitely coming (Twitter link via Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com). Donald, the former No. 13 overall pick in the 2014 draft, is under contract through 2017 at a $3.225MM cap figure. Last year, he graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 1 interior defender with a stellar 95.6 grade. A new deal for Donald will likely reset the market for defensive tackles.
Rams GM Les Snead isn’t ruling out the possibility of working out a long-term deal with Trumaine Johnson before the July 15 deadline, but they’ll revisit those discussions after OTAs, Gonzalez tweets. That’s because the Rams want to wait until they have a better feel for whether Johnson is a good fit under new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.
The Falcons are moving on from defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux but it is believed the 35-year-old will continue playing elsewhere, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com tweets. Babineaux, he notes, has connections to coaches around he league. It sounds like the veteran doesn’t plan on retirement, but in a league that is getting progressively younger, it’s not a given that he’ll find work.
Discussions about a potential extension for Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro aren’t expected until later this summer, Nick Underhill of The Advocate tweets.