LA Rams free agency shopping list a simple restructure away

A commitment made, let’s get them paid

So there are downsides to freeing up 2020 salary cap space.  What are they?  You may already have guessed some.  For starters, it kicks Goff’s salary impact into the future. In turn, that obligates the Rams to retain Jared Goff as the team’s quarterback for the next five seasons. But with so much guaranteed money already in place, does anyone truly believe that the Rams intended to leave an escape clause in the contract?  Goff’s contract averages over $30 million per year against the Rams salary cap through 2024.

For other downsides, we simply need to turn our gaze to next year. The LA Rams will need to find enough money to re-sign WR Cooper Kupp and if not extended in 2020, to re-sign CB Jalen Ramsey.  Kupp is entering his contract year and is arguably the Rams’ most important receiver entering 2020. Ramsey is also entering his contract year, and at the price of two first-round picks, the consensus remains that the Rams are committed to extending him to a multi-year deal.

Any contract restructuring, as well as new multi-year contracts that are signed in 2020, eat away at next year’s salary cap.  All elements to consider.

Still, the NFC West is wide open heading into the 2020 NFL season. And with the LA Rams playing in SoFi Stadium this year, you can bet the team wants to open the season with wins. Add to the discussion new coordinators, both Kevin O’Connell and Brandon Staley, and the team’s interests to give them both the right players to succeed this year.  The LA Rams went “all-in” in 2019.  You can bet the team will be “all-in” in 2020 as well.