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ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that Los Angeles Rams CB Trumaine Johnson is “expected” to receive a franchise tag for the second year in a row:
Other players expected to be tagged by Wednesday deadline include Kirk Cousins, Le'Veon Bell, Kawann Short, Melvin Ingram, Trumaine Johnson.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 27, 2017
The deadline to apply one of the three applicable tags (exclusive franchise, non-exclusive franchise and transition) is Wednesday, 4pm ET.
Johnson was one of just nine players tagged in the NFL last year, a decision that ultimately saw fellow CB Janoris Jenkins depart the Rams for the New York Giants in free agency. Jenkins received a five-year, $62.5m contract with $29m guaranteed and a $10m signing bonus; the cost to tag Tru for the cornerback position was just under $14m.
With both sides looking for some long-term certainty, it’s a bit confusing to be in this position yet again. You have to wonder if Tru is so unwilling to sign a deal that he’s willing to risk his market value by playing on a one-year tender.
Stay tuned over the next 50 hours as we head toward the deadline at which point we’ll either know Tru is back on a tag or that the Rams are willing to let him test the market.