The Los Angeles Rams got two of their most important contracts done before the season opener on Sunday, signing both Jalen Ramsey and Cooper Kupp to extensions last week. They did so despite being $400,000 over the cap last Wednesday, making it seem impossible for those high-priced players to be extended.
Yet, the Rams pulled it off, much to the surprise of many in the NFL community. But they shouldn’t be done signing their key players. Robert Woods could be up next, despite being under contract through the 2021 season.
He’s currently making $6.8 million per year, which is just over a third of what Kupp will make annually on his new deal. Woods is the 38th-highest paid receiver in the NFL, despite playing like one of the 10 or 15 best the last two years.
According to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic, the Rams told Woods they’d turn their attention to his deal after extending Kupp, and they’ve kept their word, opening contract talks with the stud receiver.
As I understand it, the Rams previously informed receiver Robert Woods that they'd start exploring contract options for him once they got Cooper Kupp's numbers locked in – and now they have. Woods' current deal goes through 2021, but he wants to be a Los Angeles Ram for life.
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) September 15, 2020
It’s hard to say how much Kupp should make on his next contract, but it should be at least double his current salary. Even if he were to earn $14 million per year, he’d only be the 17th-highest paid receiver in the league.
That might be a fair number for a 28-year-old receiver, but not one who’s been the most reliable wideout on the Rams’ roster for three years. More likely, he could match Kupp’s $16 million salary, which would put him slightly ahead of Jarvis Landry and right behind former Rams receiver Brandin Cooks – whom the team signed to a massive deal before he even suited up in L.A.
The Rams’ salary cap is already top-heavy with Jared Goff, Aaron Donald, Ramsey and Kupp, but they can find a way to make Woods’ contract work. They shouldn’t force the issue if Woods wants an astronomical number, but he’s such a crucial part of the offense, as we saw most recently on Sunday night against the Cowboys.
Van Jefferson looks promising as a receiver and could conceivably take over for Woods down the road, but the Rams love to use three-receiver sets and Josh Reynolds will be a free agent in 2021, so he’s probably not in their long-term plans.
We’ll see if L.A. can get a deal done with Woods soon, but don’t expect the front office to overpay after just extending Kupp.