Why John Johnson III has likely played his last game for the LA Rams

Reason III – Pricing himself out of Los Angeles:

Let’s face it. LA Rams safety John Johnson III has been one of the most productive and underrated players on the team since his rookie season in 2017. His consistent play-making ability has helped to forge the Rams secondary into one of the best units in the league. His play has definitely earned him a massive pay increase.  But with what team?

Johnson will be looking to be in the ballpark of the other safeties around the league, which is set by Kansas City Chiefs’ strong safety Tyrann Mathieu, who makes $14 million per year. Johnson will most certainly not get that on the open market. Or will he?  With that being said, he can get at least $8.8 Million per year (as per Over The Cap.com) which would make him the third highest-paid free safety in the NFL.

As previously mentioned, The Rams project to be over the 2021 salary cap by over $25 Million. That means that the team will have not have enough money to offer Johnson what he is looking for and what he thinks he worth. Unless Johnson takes a team-friendly discount, he will be playing elsewhere in 2021. And for right now, it appears as though there are many NFL teams in the market for what Johnson delivers.

All in all, John Johnson III has made a name for himself as a member of the LA Rams’ top-ranked defense in 2020.  Beyond that, he is one of the most well-respected guys in the locker room among his teammates. Johnson has taken on a leadership role since joining the team.  The defense relies upon him to not only make plays but to bring the team together when things go wrong. However, the NFL is a business, and for both the Rams and John Johnson III, free agency is just one aspect of the business as per usual.

Both sides have a mutual interest in extending their relationship, but the financial implications, as well as the team’s depth at the safety position, say otherwise.  Realistically speaking, both sides stand on opposite paths at this crossroads. Johnson will have a ton of options and garner a lot of interest this offseason when free agency begins on March 17th. Wherever John Johnson III signs, that team will be gaining not only a playmaking, reliable safety, but a leader, who puts the team first.