The Los Angeles Rams have their hands full with the five starters who are set to become free agents, but building a roster in the NFL doesn’t consist of narrowly looking toward the upcoming season. It involves a wider scope that includes looking ahead to future years with the salary cap in mind.
That being said, the Rams could potentially sign a player or two to extensions one year before they become free agents – something they like to do and have done with Rob Havenstein, Tyler Higbee, Todd Gurley and Jared Goff in recent years.
“You have to take it in process, but strategically we’ve always enjoyed checking that box for not only us, but for the player so that we all know, OK, we’re here together and we’re working toward the same goals for a long time,” Snead said at the combine of extending players early.
Here are five players the Rams could consider extending this offseason rather than waiting.
WR Cooper Kupp
The Rams already have two wideouts under contract for the next few years with Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks. However, Kupp will be a free agent after the 2020 season and continues to get better each and every year.
If the Rams want to potentially save some money, they can sign him to an extension this offseason before he puts up great numbers again in 2020. If he does that, and with the salary cap always increasing, his price tag is only going to grow. Kupp’s eventual contract could replace that of Cooks’ if the Rams move on at some point, too.
This isn’t to say the Rams should sign him to a new deal now, but it’s certainly something that’s on the table.
CB Jalen Ramsey
After giving up three draft picks – including two first-rounders – for him, the Rams can’t afford to lose Ramsey. He’s a premier cornerback with shutdown qualities, which are difficult to find and certainly don’t come cheap. No matter when the Rams extend Ramsey, he’s going to set the bar high for the rest of the cornerback market.
Signing him this offseason could save them a few bucks, though, especially if the salary cap rises significantly in 2021 with a new collective bargaining agreement. Regardless, he’s going to cost at least $17 million per year, which would put him $2 million above the current highest-paid corner in football.
The greatest benefit of locking up Ramsey now is avoiding any potential holdout or contract dispute in 2021.
S John Johnson
The Rams have a lengthy history of not paying their own defensive backs, a list that includes Janoris Jenkins, Trumaine Johnson, E.J. Gaines, T.J. McDonald and now Marcus Peters. Could Johnson buck that trend like Ramsey’s expected to? It’s definitely possible, and committing to him long-term now would show how the team values defensive backs.
Johnson is one of the best young safeties in football, showing the ability to play either free or strong safety and man or zone coverage. His well-rounded skill set makes him an asset for the Rams and someone they should keep around for the foreseeable future.
The safety market has exploded in the last couple of years, with Eddie Jackson, Kevin Byard, Tyrann Mathieu and Landon Collins all making at least $14 million per year. Johnson is probably looking at a deal in the range of $13-plus million per year, which is a high cost for a position the Rams don’t seem to value.
CB Troy Hill
Hill played well as the No. 2 cornerback opposite Ramsey last season after the Rams dealt away Peters and Aqib Talib. He was actually better in coverage than Ramsey, allowing an impressive 45.6% completion rate with two interceptions in 2019.
Entering the 2020 season, Hill is once again expected to be the second cornerback for the Rams. He’ll do so on the last year of his contract, and while he’s been inconsistent during his career, he could be in for a breakout year in 2020.
If he does go out and play well, his price will jump, likely out of a range the Rams can afford. But if they sign him now, he could probably be had for around $5 million per year.
OLB Samson Ebukam
Ebukam may be thrust into a starting job again next season if Dante Fowler Jr. leaves in free agency. He could conceivably be a starter at outside linebacker, which may be a scary proposition for fans. However, he’s shown the ability to get after the quarterback and has the athleticism to make an impact.
The purpose of re-signing him now would be to hedge against him breaking out in 2020. That’s only worth doing if the Rams truly see him as a starter and key contributor next season, otherwise extending him would be a pointless move.
