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Rams, Gurley Finalizing Extension Worth Up To $60 Million
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Rams are finalizing a four-year extension for running back Todd Gurley which is worth $60 million, $45 million of which is guaranteed. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport is reporting the same numbers.
Gurley had two years left on his existing deal, so he’s now tied to the team through the 2023 season.
As Profootballtalk.com's Darin Gantt notes, the deal is an outlier because few running backs are making that kind of money, and his previous empathy for Le'Veon Bell is now merely sympathy.
Whatever the case, as Schefter suggests, this is a deal that finally resets the RB market -- something Bell, David Johnson and Ezekiel Elliott will all ultimately benefit from.
And yes, locking up Gurley is understandable.
As the Sports Xchange recently noted, it's hard to believe Gurley was being talked about as a potential bust at the end of the 2016 season.
But all that changed under new head coach Sean McVay, who made it a point to get Gurley untracked. And he did exactly that as Gurley exploded last season for 1,305 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns coupled with 64 catches for 788 yards and six touchdowns. He set career highs in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns.
It was an MVP-caliber performance (although he had to settle for NFL Offensive Player of the Year, becoming the first running back to win that award since DeMarco Murray in 2014), and it essentially kept his backups simply watching from the sideline.
The good news for fantasy owners?
This new contract adds to the notion Gurley will remain the focal point of this offense. The question is whether there could be room for his role to grow in the Rams' offense?
Perhaps. But fantasy owners would gladly settle for another season of the status quo.
Gurley is back to being an NFL force, and his best football might very well still be ahead of him.
Worth noting: The Rams have also extended wide receiver Brandin Cooks, but haven’t made any reported progress with defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who is entering the last year of his deal.