The Los Angeles Rams have had a very tough offseason. Strapped for cash, they had to make some difficult decisions with the roster that has left some parts of the roster lacking in depth. It is hard to believe this is the same franchise that only 13 months ago was raising the Lombardi Trophy as Super Bowl champions.
Los Angeles has no one to blame but itself for this mess. Their approach was a risky one, as they threw caution to the wind when it came to draft capital. It did result in a ring, but their future outlook is gloomy, at best.
Defensively, it is hard to pick out recognizable names. Jalen Ramsey was traded to the Miami Dolphins and Nick Scott signed with the Cincinnati Bengals. Leonard Floyd and Bobby Wagner were both released. A’Shawn Robinson, Troy Hill, Taylor Rapp and Greg Gaines all remain free agents.
It is hard to imagine the Rams bringing back many, if any, of those players given their salary cap situation. However, they are going to have to bring in players at some point in time. Their secondary looks pretty weak with so many starters from last season, not on the roster, so that could be where they look first.
One player who would be a perfect fit for them according to Bill Barnwell of ESPN is safety John Johnson III. Johnson has previously played for the Rams, which makes him an attractive option. There is also plenty of good football left at the age of 27 following a 101-tackle season in 2022.
Another important factor in pursuing Johnson is the compensatory pick formula that the NFL uses. Short on depth, the Rams need to acquire as many draft picks as possible in the coming seasons to rebuild their roster. Johnson doesn’t count toward that formula, so their standing for comp picks would not be negatively impacted.
Things didn’t pan out for him with the Cleveland Browns, who signed him to a three-year deal in free agency in 2021. He was released earlier this offseason, but he has enough good performance on tape that a team desperate for any kind of veteran production, such as the Rams, should be willing to take a shot on him.
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