Taylor Rapp was viewed as one of the best safety prospects in last year’s draft class, so it’s no surprise that by season’s end, he was among the top rookies in the NFL. He didn’t crack the starting lineup until Week 7, though, which was one week after John Johnson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.
From that point forward, Rapp improved with each passing week. He finished the year with two interceptions and 99 tackles, playing 74% of the defensive snaps as a rookie. As good as he was in Year 1, it didn’t happen without hard work and some help from his mentors at safety, Eric Weddle and Johnson.
But now with Weddle retired, Rapp will be a full-time starter next to John Johnson next season. Whenever football returns, he’ll be running with the starters on defense as one part of a versatile safety tandem.
And he can’t wait to see what Johnson is going to do in his return from injury.
“J.J. is such a good player and he really doesn’t get the praise or respect he deserves, but just expect a big year from him this year,” he said. “He’s been working and rehabbing every day and he’s itching to get back more than ever. He’s a very versatile player. I think he can do everything a coach can ask a Safety to do on a defense. He can play deep, he can match up any tight end, he can drop down, he can play in the box, he can play linebacker, he can really do everything.”
Johnson is entering a contract year, but that’s not something he fears. He said recently that he’s excited about the idea of playing for his next deal, and he’s going to let his play speak for itself. As long as he continues on his current trajectory, he’s going to land a lucrative new contract, be it from the Rams or another team in free agency.
With Rapp and Johnson healthy, the back half of the Rams’ secondary is looking like one of the best in football.
