Robert Woods doesn’t have the size of Julio Jones, the speed of DeSean Jackson or the hands of DeAndre Hopkins. He may not be the best athlete in the NFL, but when it comes to route running and being a reliable target for his quarterback, Woods is near the top of the league.
After a breakout 2018 season in which he caught 86 passes for 1,219 yards and six touchdowns, Woods was rewarded for performing at such a high level. The Rams gave him a $1 million raise in 2019 and tacked on $2 million fully guaranteed in 2020, recognizing how well he’s played since signing a bargain of a deal two years ago.
He’s improved over the course of the last two years and has become a much better all-around receiver. His route running is arguably his best asset and he believes if he continues to progress in that area, he’ll be paid in the future.
“If you perfect your craft, you’re going to get paid for it, just like Picasso,” Woods told Gary Klein of the L.A. Times. “This out here is an art. I feel like if I perfect my routes and my game, it will be worth a lot of money.”
Woods has plenty of speed and soft hands, but what really helps him get open is his route running. He’s quick in and out of his breaks and knows how to find holes in zone coverage. It’s part of the reason Aqib Talib says he’s the toughest Rams receiver to cover.
Despite being signed through 2021, Woods could be up for a new contract after this season. The Rams would love to keep him on his current deal, which pays him just $6.8 million per year, but it’s also important to reward players for outplaying their contracts.
