With deadline looming, Rams franchise CB Trumaine Johnson

The deadline for NFL teams to designate a franchise player for the 2017 season is Wednesday afternoon, and the Los Angeles Rams became the seventh team to use the tag, using it on cornerback Trumaine Johnson.

It is the second straight year the Rams have tagged Johnson, a third-round pick out of Montana in 2012.

Because players who are tagged for a second year get a 120 percent raise over their tag amount the previous year, Johnson stands to make $16.7 million this season, making him the highest-paid cornerback in the league if he plays the season on the tag and doesn’t agree to a long-term deal with Los Angeles.

Johnson played and started 14 games last season, with one interception, 11 pass break-ups and a fumble recovery. ProFootball Focus had him ranked as the 26th-best corner in the NFL based on his performance last season.