Dec 17, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams safety John Johnson III (43) celebrates after intercepting a pass against the Washington Commanders in the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota’s roster has undergone some significant changes this offseason, but the current product looks good on paper. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has closed most roster holes. Bringing in another reinforcement is still an option.
Vikings Advised to Sign a Veteran Defender
Consider another piece to read about two guys from the 2024 Vikings who could still be re-signed for the upcoming season.
The pool of unsigned athletes does offer some intriguing leftovers from free agency, and if the decision-makers aren’t 100% confident in the players they have in place, they should pick up the phone and call one of the remaining players. One of those could be John Johnson III, a safety formerly of the Los Angeles Rams.
Bleacher Report’s Suggestion
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard (13) runs after a catch against Los Angeles Rams free safety John Johnson (43) during their NFL divisional playoff game Saturday, January 16, 2021, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton linked the purple franchise to the veteran defender. He compiled a list of one move every franchise should make, and for the Vikings, he suggested Johnson III’s addition.
Moton wrote: “At safety, the Vikings have Harrison Smith and Josh Metellus in starting spots and not much behind them. Fourth-year veteran Theo Jackson and third-year pro Jay Ward have played 285 career defensive snaps combined.”
There’s no doubt that Cam Bynum’s departure will hurt Brian Flores’ unit, and they might be one man shy if Theo Jackson isn’t as good as advertised.
Moton continued: “Johnson has experience at both safety positions, and he can also take on assignments in the slot. Last September, he suffered a hairline fracture in his scapula. Now healthy, the 29-year-old can fill multiple roles.”
John Johnson III’s Career
Jan 9, 2021; Seattle, Washington, USA; Los Angeles Rams safety John Johnson III (43) tackles Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) during the fourth quarter at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Johnson III went to Boston College and was then a third-round pick of the Rams in 2017. In his rookie year, he started as a depth safety but entered the starting lineup later in the season, starting 11 of the 16 regular-season games and one more in the postseason.
In year two, Johnson III was a full-time starter all season, including the Super Bowl loss against Flores’ New England Patriots. A shoulder injury knocked him out of the 2019 season, and he only appeared in six games, but returned for the 2020 campaign.
The Browns hired the defender in the 2021 offseason, signing him to a three-year deal for $33.75 million. Johnson III started for two seasons before the Browns moved on from him via release. In each of the last two years, the Rams re-hired their former draft pick. He signed cheap one-year deals each time.
A hairline fracture in his scapula cost him the majority of the season, and he returned just in time to beat the Vikings in the playoffs.
In eight seasons, Johnson III has played in 105 games and secured 11 interceptions, 562 tackles, and 13 tackles for loss.
Safety Room
Sep 22, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver Steven Sims (82) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings safety Theo Jackson (26) during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
The Vikings still have Harrison Smith and Joshua Metellus at safety. Without Bynum, however, the third guy is missing in Flores’ excellent three-safety rotation. Theo Jackson was re-signed, but he has only been in backup roles throughout his career. The other alternative would be Jay Ward, a 2023 draftee who has been behind Jackson on the depth chart.
Jackson received a three-year contract extension ahead of free agency and a nice little raise. He’s always been a guy who earned some praise and, in his limited action, has been quite solid.
It’ll all come down to Jackson. If the Vikings think he’s not ready, a guy like Johnson III is in play. He had some crossover with Kevin O’Connell in Los Angeles and with Adofo-Mensah in Cleveland. Also, the Rams’ defense was coordinated for a while by Wade Phillips, the father of Minnesota’s OC, Wes.
At 29 years old, Johnson III is a decent backup plan.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.
