3 Most Overrated Rams From the 2023-24 NFL Season

2. John Johnson

The Rams welcomed back the veteran safety to the team after he spent the previous two years with the Cleveland Browns. In his last season with Cleveland (2022), Johnson produced 101 combined tackles, four tackles, two quarterback hits, and an interception.

However, before he joined the Browns, Johnson began his career with the Rams, who selected him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. 

In his first stint with the Rams, Johnson was one of the better young safeties in the league that teams had to gameplan for. Johnson’s best season with the Rams happened in 2018 when he recorded 119 combined tackles, 11 pass deflections, and four interceptions.

With that in mind, Rams fans probably thought Johnson was going to be a major addition to their secondary this season. But that wasn’t the case, as he had 42 combined tackles, six pass deflections, and two interceptions in 17 games (eight starts).

Johnson played less than 50% of defensive snaps this season and even saw some snaps on special teams. The veteran safety wasn’t bad this season, but he wasn’t the playmaker that Rams fans remember.

The 28-year-old defensive back is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March, so there’s a chance that the Rams could bring him back. If the Rams don’t believe there’s a better strong safety option in free agency or if they draft a safety, Johnson could return on a one-year deal.