5 LA Rams players who could be traded for needed draft picks

Player III: Tag and trade

While the LA Rams face the loss of multiple key starters to the 2021 NFL Free Agency, they have a trick or two up their sleeves.  One such option to consider is the option to tag-and-trade veteran safety John Johnson III. What do we mean?  If the Rams do nothing, Johnson’s agent can negotiate with each of the 32 NFL teams for the best deal possible.

Unless…

The LA Rams have the option to assign their Franchise tag to Johnson. That will cost the LA Rams a little over $11 million, but it gives them two incredibly valuable options. Either the LA Rams can commit to bringing back Johnson for the 2021 NFL season on a one-year deal. Or the Rams can use the Franchise tag as leverage to dangle in an anticipated trade to secure draft picks for Johnson to play for another team.

For the other team, that is certainly worth consideration. The cost of Johnson this year is certain to top that mark. And as soon as a team acquires John Johnson III, they have exclusive rights to negotiate with him for an extension until the 2022 legal tampering period. And while no team can negotiate with a player’s agent directly, you can bet that NFL teams are heavily engaged with proposed trade scenarios.

For the Rams, this type of scenario only makes sense for a first or second-round pick.  Would any teams value Johnson that much? Well, the Los Angeles Chargers, the Detroit Lions, and Green Bay Packers all have former LA Rams defensive coaches on staff, and all would love to have Johnson on their rosters. Is the cost too high?  Not for the right scenario.