LA Rams News: 2020 or bust for 5 defenders

S Johnson

LA Rams safety John Johnson delivers everything a defensive coordinator could ask for, as long as he is on the field. Can he stay healthy in 2020? If he does, he has an opportunity to showcase his talents in what could very well be his career-best season. If he cannot, then the team will have a very easy decision when his contract expires at the end of the season.  But will it be that easy? After all, Johnson explodes on defense when he plays.

Safety John Johnson is one of the players who could be elite in 2020. In 2018, he generated 119 tackles and four interceptions. In just five games in 2019, he had already racked up 51 tackles and two interceptions. Projected over 16 games, that equates to 164 tackles and seven interceptions. That’s incredibly impressive, particularly considering that the NFL leading tackler, Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner, accounted for 159 tackles in 2019.

Won’t go back again

Much like the Rams dilemma with wide receiver Cooper Kupp, the team faces a narrow path to re-sign Johnson in 2021. If Johnson has an outstanding season, the LA Rams will certainly seek to re-sign him to the roster. But that performance will attract suitors from many other NFL teams, all seeking to sign a solid player at the position.  And so, a good to great year could price Johnson out of the Rams’ price range.

But if he doesn’t perform well, what is the incentive to bring him back?  He missed most of 2019 with an injury, and should 2020 prove to underwhelm, then the team has every right to focus upon starting one of their younger safeties in 2020. With his talent, the likely only scenario is another injury-shortened season. While the Rams could roll the dice, the pain from paying players who are oft-injured is still too fresh. And the Rams have plenty of options to spend salary cap dollars in 2021.