Rams Lock In Key Pieces With Extensions

The Los Angeles Rams have been busy this offseason, signing several players to extensions as they prepare for another title run.

Safety Kam Curl signed a three-year, $36 million deal with the Rams, while tight end Tyler Higbee signed a two-year, $8 million deal. The Rams also signed their newest addition, Trent McDuffie, to a four-year, $124 million deal with $100 million guaranteed.

Rams Lock In Key Pieces With Extensions

Extended Players

Curl is a solid safety with strengths in run defense and open field tackling. He is also effective in multiple roles as a deep or box safety and slot defender. Curl is reliable, playing a high percentage of snaps. Pro Football Focus (PFF) gave him a 73.1 overall grade, which ranked 16^th out of 98 qualifying safeties. He was also given an 84.7 PFF grade in run defense, which ranked him sixth among safeties. He is the perfect complement to Kam Kinchens, the Rams’ other starting safety, who was ranked sixth in pass coverage among safeties. Curl’s deal is also favorable for the Rams, with $24 million guaranteed, and leaves an option to cut him after two years.

Higbee is a serviceable tight end who has been with the Rams since entering the league in 2016. The fourth-rounder out of Western Kentucky has been a trustworthy target for Matthew Stafford since 2021. Higbee logged 281 receiving yards and three touchdowns this season. Although that is a small number, he can make any play he’s asked to, including run and pass blocking. Higbee tore his ACL in 2024, and while he isn’t the same player, at four million per year, he is a valuable veteran the team can rely on.

The Rams’ most attention-needed position this offseason is cornerback. Last season, the Rams’ worst unit was the corners. This offseason marks a new day for the Rams’ defensive unit. Trent McDuffie became a Ram last week after the Rams sent a haul of picks to the Kansas City Chiefs. McDuffie’s $124 million extension is the biggest cornerback contract in NFL history. While signing the largest contract in the position’s history may seem questionable, McDuffie is an elite corner. He has been a top-five corner since he entered the league with a PFF career coverage grade of 89.4.

Offseason Options for the Rams

These extensions benefit the team by retaining key players and allowing general manager Les Snead to acquire more players through free agency and the draft. The Rams still have the 13^th overall pick in the upcoming draft, and they could add a productive player for the upcoming season. Snead has the option to draft for many different needs. He could replace longtime lineman Rob Havenstein, who retired, draft a receiver to help Puka Nacua, or select another corner to shore up the defense.

Several mock drafts predict different players for the Rams to select. Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq, USC receiver Makai Lemon, and Tennessee cornerbacks Jermod McCoy or Colton Hood are all real possibilities for the Rams at 13.

The Rams could also choose to re-sign members of their cornerback room, such as Cobie Durant, Ahkello Witherspoon, Roger McCreary, and Derion Kendrick, who are all unrestricted free agents.