Logjam breaks: LA Rams sign eight drafted rookies

As expected, the LA Rams front office had everything queued up. Well, everything but the newly signed contract between the team and All-Pro defensive lineman Aaron Donald. Now that that massive pay hike is water under the bridge, the logjam is behind the team and the LA Rams front office is back on track.

That means that all of the normal routine items in the inbox can be addressed. For starters, the LA Rams have finally inked all eight of their 2022 NFL Draft pick rookies to contracts as well. The news was reported by NFL Insider Field Yates today:

In what most are calling the major Rams contract news of the day: LA has signed all 8 of their draft picks to their four-year rookie deals.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) June 6, 2022

Was this development expected? Were the LA Rams holding rookie contracts hostage as they negotiated to sign Donald? Not exactly.

As we had pointed out previously in our LA Rams pieces for another SB run still not falling into place article recently, the team needed to hold off on any other contractual obligations under their biggest contract, the Aaron Donald revised contract until it was all down on paper. Now that the AD deal is completed, the Rams front office can navigate the ins and outs of the NFL salary cap to complete the remaining outstanding contracts:

"“…When the Aaron Donald contract gets done, the team will likely have a batch of announcements regarding officially signing rookies, a new contract with WR Cooper Kupp, and perhaps even word of Odell Beckham Jr. finally signing with the team…”"

So we are checking off contracts at a rapid pace now. Nine contracts are signed, one revision outstanding, and then perhaps the potential to draft up one new offer to a wide receiver needs to be made.

While the offseason news about holdouts and contract disputes is never fun for the fans, the fact is that these contract negotiations are no worse than those that are conducted as part of practically any business. And so, with the big guy’s contract in agreement, the LA Rams front office can get back to the business at hand. Look for a faster resolution over WR Cooper Kupp’s contract.

Then, back to improving this roster.

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