It looks like the Kansas City Chiefs are in the final stages of trading cornerback Marcus Peters to the Los Angeles Rams, according to a report on Friday by Adam Schefter of ESPN. The San Francisco 49ers were among the teams interested in trading for Peters and will now have to face him twice a year. The deal, once agreed upon, won't be finalized until the start of the new league year on March 14.
What is the deal's impact on free agency? Ian Rapoport of NFL Network states that the trade likely means the Rams won't do anything to prevent cornerback Trumaine Johnson from hitting free agency next month.
Among the teams interested in trading for #Chiefs CB Marcus Peters were the #Browns and #49ers. This also means #Rams CB Trumaine Johnson is moving on.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 23, 2018
Johnson will likely be among the top free agent cornerbacks available at the start of the new league year. It's a list that could include names like Malcolm Butler of the New England Patriots and E.J. Gaines of the Buffalo Bills.
Spotrac.com lists Johnson's market value at an average annual salary of about $11 million. The 49ers currently have the second-most salary cap space ($74.4 million) among NFL teams, according to OverTheCap.com.
Johnson, who played college football at Montana, was a third-round draft pick by the then-St. Louis Rams in 2012. In six seasons with the Rams, he registered 328 combined tackles, 67 passes defensed, 18 interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns, and two forced fumbles.
Johnson started 15 games for the Rams in 2017 while accumulating 65 combined tackles, 14 passes defensed, a forced fumble, and two interceptions, which included a pick-six. In Los Angeles' playoff loss to the Atlanta Falcons, he made three tackles.
Johnson's 1,005 snaps this past season were the most by any Rams defensive player, according to Pro Football Focus.
The 49ers ended the 2017 season with rookie Ahkello Witherspoon and veteran Dontae Johnson as the starting cornerbacks. Johnson, who San Francisco is not expected to re-sign, is scheduled to become a free agent.
