The Los Angeles Rams announced the re-signing of veteran safety John Johnson III on July 4th. This marks Johnson's third stint with the Rams, and his second on a one-year contract with Los Angeles. The Rams aimed to bring a veteran leader to their secondary, and Johnson shores up their depth.
The details of Johnson's second free-agent deal with the Rams came out this week, showing how much of a potential steal this could be for Los Angeles.
According to Over the Cap, Johnson's new deal is structured as such:
-Base salary: $1,210,000
-Prorated signing bonus: $120,000
-Roster bonus: $32,500
-Guaranteed salary: $625,000
Johnson will account for a $1.15M cap hit for 2024 for this season, or 0.4% of their cap space. Johnson's deal in 2023 didn't include any roster bonuses or guaranteed money, so it's a pay raise for Johnson heading into 2024.
Compare this to his free agent deal signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2021, where he signed for a three-year, $33M deal. While Johnson has lost a step athletically, his veteran presence is crucial for a team as young and unproven in the secondary as the Rams are. He'll be an important part of their defense this season, making a deal this cheap a steal.