Rams Again Designate Cornerback Trumaine Johnson as Franchise Player

LOS ANGELES, CA -- The Los Angeles Rams announced Wednesday they have elected to place the non-exclusive franchise tag on cornerback Trumaine Johnson for the second consecutive season.

Johnson is allowed to negotiate with other teams in free agency, but if he signs with another team, that team would owe the Rams two first-round picks in compensation. The compensation makes it unlikely another team would sign Johnson.

The Rams will be able to negotiate terms of a long-term contract with Johnson's representatives until July 15.

Johnson is the first cornerback to have the franchise tag placed on him in back-to-back seasons since Charles Woodson of the Oakland Raiders in 2004 and 2005.

Johnson was fifth on the Rams in tackles in 2016 with 57. He made one interception after making seven in the 2015 season, the third-highest total in the NFL.

Johnson was drafted by the Rams in the third round of the 2012 draft out of Montana and has played his entire NFL career with the team

-- City News Service, photo courtesy of the NFL