The 7 worst contracts in LA Rams franchise history

The Worst contract

1 – QB Jared Goff – September 3, 2019 – 4 years, $134 million with $110,042,682 guaranteed

Okay, here we are. We’ve climbed through some pretty bad contracts, some that are truly skunk-like, but nothing compares to the massive stinker that is the contract extension used to retain a young quarterback Jared Goff for four years, $134 million and guaranteeing over $110 million of that amount.

The problem with this contract is as much the amount of the contract with so much guaranteed money, but the thought process of the team in allowing it all to happen. This deal was inked and signed just days before the 2019 NFL season, and after Super Bowl LIII proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that NFL defenses had successfully determined that if Rams head coach Sean McVay did not send in the right play, defenses could successfully change their looks, confuse Goff, and neutralize the entire LA Rams offense.

And yet the Rams pressed ahead. Not only did the team offer up a Moby Dick whale-sized contract at $134 million, but guaranteed 82 percent of the thing. Not 50 percent. Not even 60 percent. Better than 82 percent was guaranteed.

And like all but the Aaron Donald extension, as soon as the contract was executed, it was obviously an overpay for their quarterback. Just over two months after signing the contract, the Rams’ record was 5-4, and the offense was suddenly struggling to put points on the board.

After three seasons of improvement in completion percentage, yards passing, passing touchdowns, yards per attempt, and even yards per completion, Goff was suddenly regressing. Although his completion rate improved for 2020, the improvement was due to the Rams’ route options shrinking dramatically.

The Rams traded Goff, a 2021 NFL Draft third-round pick, a 2022 NFL Draft first-round pick, and a 2023 NFL Draft first-round pick to the Detroit Lions in exchange for veteran QB Matthew Stafford.

Yes, the LA Rams have learned expensive lessons about the best ways to structure NFL contracts. Very expensive lessons indeed.