LA Rams FA S John Johnson adds punch to AFC North Browns D

The LA Rams did not harbor much hope to re-sign safety John Johnson III. After the team failed to apply the Franchise Tag to the veteran safety, it was all but waving the white flag of surrender that Johnson’s fair market value was too much for the Rams’ budget. Had the Rams pulled the trigger on a franchise tag (they didn’t), the Rams would have been on the hook for a one-year deal at $10.6 million. A transition tag (they didn’t), would have put the Rams on the hook for $9,05 million.

Even as those hopes faded, the fears of where Johson might sign rose. Rumors had linked Johnson to multiple NFL teams, including the rival San Francisco 49ers. If that had occurred, the pain and disappointment would have been two-fold. A key player lost, but a key player adding to the talent of a bitter rival.

Thankfully, that did not happen either. The Rams did lose John Johnson III to another team, but to the rising fortunes of the AFC North’s Cleveland Browns. Johnson will be a huge upgrade for the Brown defense.  They were ranked 22nd in the NFL for 2020 in pass defense.

So now the question for the LA Rams is, how much did John Johnson III sign for?

Rams free agency strategy = comp picks

Well, the depressed market may have been an impact, but the Browns appear to have gotten hellish good value.

Based on the 2020 compensatory pick tiers, his signing should result in the award of a fourth-round compensatory pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Of course, that will depend on who signs and for how much.

For Browns fans? You’ve got a solid player at a surprisingly affordable price. John Johnson brings it all: run support, sure-handed tackling, pass coverage, a sentry at the deep-end of the defense. He is both cerebral in his conceptualization of the defensive scheme, as well as a physical brute who can punish receivers and rushers on the field.

Johnson is the type of player who just does whatever a defense needs him to do but performs at such a high level that he soon becomes overlooked because he delivers at or exceeds expectations each and every time. He was arguably a Pro Bowler for 2020 and is the consensus third-best NFL safety. A huge addition to any defense.