Todd Gurley the latest to get a massive extension before Aaron Donald
The Los Angeles Rams are handing out a ton of money lately, but none of it has gone to Aaron Donald. Todd Gurley is the latest to get a big extension…
The Los Angeles Rams continue to devote a ton of financial resources across the board on their roster, the latest long-term extension being done with running back Todd Gurley.
Gurley was entering the fourth year of his rookie contract and the Rams had already exercised his fifth-year option worth over $9 million.
As of now, it doesn’t appear the new four-year extension — initially reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter — will nullify the fifth-year option.
Rams and RB Todd Gurley finalizing agreement on a 4-year extension worth $60 million that includes $45 million guaranteed that ties him to LA for the next six seasons, source tells ESPN. Finally a deal that resets the RB market.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 24, 2018
It looks like this contract will keep Gurley under contract through the 2023 season when he will be 28 years old.
Gurley’s guarantee of $45 million is the largest ever given to a running back and is far and away the most guaranteed money on any contract at his position in the NFL today.
With the fifth-year option also guaranteed, Gurley could be looking at over $52 million in total guarantees from the Rams at around $15 million in average salary through 2023.
While this contract is historic and Gurley is certainly deserving of a long-term deal, the more interesting storyline is the Rams’ continued failure at re-signing Aaron Donald.
The Rams are in a very favorable scenario right now with starting quarterback Jared Goff just now entering year three of his rookie contract.
With the progression Goff has already shown to this point, the Rams are solidified at that position and they can start spending a lot of guaranteed money up front because of Goff costing a mere fraction of what franchise quarterbacks are worth in the NFL.
Over the next two seasons, Goff will count less than $17 million against the Rams’ cap. The league average per year at the position is more than that (for starters).
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With that favorable cap situation, the Rams are able to pay other players at other positions given Goff will not be an unrestricted free agent for four more years.
So, while it’s interesting that the team continues to put off re-signing Donald, or at least can’t come to any sort of reasonable agreement, these contracts being handed out likely won’t prevent Los Angeles from being able to give Donald what he wants though when he is re-signed, they will have to start being a bit more conservative in preparation for Goff’s contract coming up.