LA Rams release RB Todd Gurley, 7 NFL teams likely to sign him

Cap offset in play

Curiously enough, the two questions have common elements for the Rams fans.  After all, the team’s salary cap is a big deal, since it drives the team’s decisions on who they can sign, and who they must release.  To that end, the Rams’ fans will be watching where and for how much Todd Gurley signs elsewhere

The reason that is important is that the Rams will take an additional $8.4 million hit to their cap in 2021.  From that amount, the Rams will be able to offset (or reduce the salary cap impact) whatever Gurley’s next contract amount is, up to a maximum of $2.5 million.  That will bring the team’s 2021 hit down to $5.9 million.

Of course, NFL.com’s Michael Silver saw it coming in December 2019.  We reported his suspicions in January 2020. He continued to report on the situation, and remind everyone that the relationship was fragile at best.

With all this in mind, the team had 75 days to develop an exit strategy. Their strategy did nothing.  The team had an option to approach renegotiating the lofty contract terms with the player and his agent to a more market-based amount.  That team also had the option to a restructuring of the contract terms to significantly reduce the salary cap impact in 2020, and allow the team to spend money on other critical positions. Neither option was executed.  Ultimately, the team decided that running back Todd Gurley did not offer enough value to remain on the team’s roster at his current price.