You won't believe who the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL is
Not Josh Norman. Not Richard Sherman. Definitely not Darrelle Revis.
Nope, it's the Rams' Trumaine Johnson who just hit the jackpot, becoming the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL after being franchise tagged for the second straight year Wednesday. Johnson is in line to make $16.7 million next season — one-tenth of the total salary cap for next season.
Johnson, a 2012 third-round pick who's never made an All-Pro or Pro Bowl team, had seven interceptions in 2015 but just one last year, when he made $13.9 million on the franchise tag while No. 1 corner Janoris Jenkins left for the Giants on a five-year, $62.5 million deal. Jenkins was voted to the Pro Bowl as a starter while Johnson had 57 tackles for a Rams defense that ranked ninth — one spot ahead of New York's.
https://twitter.com/PFF/status/837005189051789312
However, the Rams' lack of depth at cornerback left them with little choice but to fork over more money to Johnson than to any other player on their roster, leaving them with a reported $20 million to spend in free agency, and no first-round draft pick.
Just how much money is it? Only six defensive players — Justin Houston, Von Miller, Josh Norman, Ndamukong Suh, Muhammad Wilkerson and Jason Pierre-Paul — will have higher cap hits next season. (However, Norman's 2017 salary is slightly less than Johnson's at $16.5 million.)
https://twitter.com/AaronWilson_NFL/status/836985621453422593
Johnson is the sixth player to receive the franchise tag this offseason (average salary: $16 million) and the first cornerback to receive the franchise tag in back-to-back seasons since Charles Woodson, who got it from the Oakland Raiders in 2004-05. Johnson still can sign with another team, but the Rams would receive two first-round picks in return.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
