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The Los Angeles Rams placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on safety Lamarcus Joyner, the team announced Tuesday. The value of the tag for Joyner is $11.287 million for the 2018 season. The Rams have until 4 p.m. ET on July 16 to sign him to a multi-year contract or he will have to play the season on the franchise tag.
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The non-exclusive version of the franchise tag allows Joyner to negotiate and potentially sign a deal with another team in exchange for two first-round picks.
Fellow cornerback Trumaine Johnson, who had received the franchise tag the past two offseasons, will be an unrestricted free agent on March 14 when the new league year begins. Johnson's future with team is in doubt after it acquired Marcus Peters from the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this offseason.
The decision to tag Joyner also means that wide receiver Sammy Watkins is heading toward free agency, one year after he was acquired from the Buffalo Bills for cornerback E.J. Gaines and a second-round pick.
Joyner recorded 49 tackles, three interceptions and a forced fumble in 12 games after moving from cornerback to safety. He returned one of his interceptions for a touchdown.
The 27-year-old has collected 227 tackles, 4.0 sacks and three interceptions in 52 career contests since being selected by the Rams in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Watkins had 39 receptions for 593 yards and a team-leading eight touchdown catches this past season. The 24-year-old, however, had three or fewer catches in 12 of 15 games this past season.
