Los Angeles Rams will use Franchise Tag on Janoris Jenkins or Trumaine Johnson

By Alex Alarcon | Feb 26, 2016

With the Rams coming back to Los Angeles, they must make a splash in free agency to compete for a playoff spot as the spotlight will be on them this season. It’s a do or die season for head coach Jeff Fisher as fans won’t be too happy with another below average record for the 2016 season. If the Rams are wanting to move forwards instead of backwards this offseason they must re-sign two key players.

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Cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson were a key part of the Rams’ defense last season as they both helped the Rams record the 5th best secondary in the league according to Pro Football Focus. With the level of performance these two cornerbacks have shown the past couple of years, they are due for a huge contract. Currently the Los Angeles Rams have the cap space to hopefully sign both cornerbacks, but could they use their Franchise Tag?

Jason Cole of Bleacher Report reports that either Janoris Jenkins or Trumaine Johnson will receive the franchise tag in the coming weeks. According to Cole, the Rams recently improved their offer to a five-year deal for Jenkins. Maybe this was why Jenkins expressed his views on twitter about the contract? Anyway, they’ve yet to extend an offer to Johnson, which implies he could be the Franchise Tag in the coming weeks.

It’s going to be a hard choice for the Rams who to put the Franchise Tag on, but clearly Trumaine Johnson looks to be the better cornerback for the future. Even the fans are hoping to see at least Johnson come back to the Rams. Another question that should be answered before the Rams send another offer to Jenkins, is he worth the “price” and ego that comes along with it.

Also, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports that the Rams have told people that they’re prepared to use their franchise tag on either Janoris Jenkins or Trumaine Johnson. So this Franchise Tag will be used in the coming weeks. It will be intersting to see who get’s the tag.

In 2015, Jenkins appeared in 15 games with recording 64 tackles, 3 Interceptions and a forced fumble. He also had 15 pass defenses for the Rams. According to Pro Football Focus, Jenkins was rated as the Number 26 cornerback out of 111 qualified cornerbacks in the NFL.

In 2015, Johnson appeared in 14 games with recording 71 tackles, 7 interceptions with one being returned for a touchdown, and a fumble recovery. He also had 17 pass defenses for the Rams. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the Number 19 cornerback only two spots higher than Jenkins.

If the Los Angeles Rams were going to use their franchise tag, who should they use it on?