The Los Angeles Rams finished in the top-half of the NFL in terms of pass defense last season, ranking 13th in yards allowed. They were one of the best ball-hawking teams in the league, finishing with the fifth-lowest passer rating against and the sixth-most interceptions (20).

A big reason for their success against the pass is Trumaine Johnson, the team’s No. 1 cornerback. Although he didn’t have seven interceptions like he did in 2015, Johnson put together a solid season in Los Angeles, playing all 16 games for the first time since 2013 – though he hardly played Week 17.

Johnson consistently shadowed No. 1 receivers on a weekly basis, from Julio Jones to Dez Bryant to DeAndre Hopkins. And even though he wasn’t a Pro Bowler or All-Pro, he played a significant role on the Rams’ defense, and people are taking notice.

Bleacher Report ranked him 15th among all cornerbacks this past season in its NFL1000 series, which is a big compliment.

Offensive players weren’t the only ones who benefited from a coaching staff overhaul. Trumaine Johnson played much more effectively under Wade Phillips’ attacking style compared to the conservative, off-ball zone approach of the previous staff. Johnson’s a solid press corner who disrupts plays at the line of scrimmage with his strength and length. He’s prone to getting lost in zone when he doesn’t have a clear assignment, and is a tad slow when he has to turn and run due to stiff hips.

Johnson benefitted from Wade Phillips’ aggressive defense, which utilized more press-man and less zone. That’s certainly his strength, allowing him to get up on receivers at the line of scrimmage and play a physical style of defense.

That’s all well and good for the Rams, but one thing looms large: his expiring contract. Johnson will be a free agent in March, and given the way he’s played, he’s certain to receive a massive contract on the open market.

If he surpasses the contracts A.J. Bouye and Stephon Gilmore received last year, he’ll be paid more than $13.5 million annually, which is a huge amount of money that the Rams may not be able to afford.