Rams bring back a familiar face on a new deal, re-stocking secondary depth with a surprising roster twist

So why cut Kendrick if you were set to just re-sign him the following week? Some of it may be due to financials. 

Thanks to Kendrick's 18 career starts with the Rams in the first two years of his rookie contract, he had received a $2.306 million raise for the fourth and final year of his rookie contract courtesy of the Collective Bargaining Agreement's Proven Performance Escalator. Kendrick who was originally scheduled to make $1.1 million when he signed his contract, was instead scheduled to play for over $3.4 million before being waived. 

After clearing waivers, Kendrick's rookie contract is now nullified, meaning the Rams were free to renegotiate a new contract with a new dollar figure for him to play on in 2025. With Kendrick missing all of the 2024 season due to his knee injury, it should not surprise anyone to find out that the Rams have him back on a dollar amount that is much closer to the vet minimum value of compensation instead of the hefty pay raise he was set to recoup thanks to his 2022 and 2023 contributions. 

If that is indeed the move for the Rams, it's a tough break for Kendrick. But this league is a business. From Kendrick's perspective, being on the roster for a reduced amount after missing all of last year beats not being on the roster at all. The actual terms of Kendrick's new deal with the Rams are yet to be determined — but look for his new salary to be lower than the one he was scheduled for.