Rams act quickly to invest in trenches with second extension of 2025

After the Los Angeles Rams negotiated a new contract with starting quarterback Matthew Stafford, GM Les Snead instantly pivoted to extend starting left tackle Alaric Jackson. It's not a particularly innovative next step, but investing in protecting the guy you just paid handsomely makes plenty of sense. And so it did for the Rams roster as well.

The team's front office acted almost instantly after landing Stafford, which led to an anxious fanbase asking: Who will be the next Rams player to sign an extension? We now have our answer. The team has just tendered an Extended Right Free Agent offer to backup center Dylan McMahon.

Now the questions begin to multiply. What is an Exclusive Rights Free Agent? Is Dylan McMahon any good? Why is this news significant? So let's do more than just share the bare news:

What is an Exclusive Rights Free Agent (ERFA)?

We had published an article in 2021 that elaborated on the various NFL free agency categories. The only modifications to that article to bring it up to date are the salary tables needed for Qualifying Tender Offers. But four years have lapsed, so we are happy to share what constitutes an ERFA in 2025 as well.

The NFL has several categories of free agency when referring to players whose contracts have expired. The categories are: Unrestricted Free Agency, Restricted Free Agency (RFA), and Exclusive Rights Free Agency (ERFA). These categories arose out of negotiations between the NFL (teams and ownership) and the NFLPA (players) that established ground rules for free agency. Per NFL.com, ERFA is the most limiting category of free agency that players will fall under.

"Any player with fewer than three accrued seasons and an expired contract. If his original team offers him a one-year contract at the league minimum (based on his credited seasons), the player cannot negotiate with other teams."

To retain exclusive negotiating rights, the Rams must offer any ERFA the NFL Minimum Salary as per that player's number of qualifying seasons. Per OTC.com, the salary table per qualifying season is:

• 0 - $ 840,000
• 1 - $ 960,000
• 2 - $1,030,000
• 3 - $1,100,000

Because backup center Dylan McMahon is entering his second NFL season, his tendered salary offer for 20225 is $960,000.

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Why is this news significant?

The Los Angeles Rams did not expect rookie center Beaux Limmer to win the starting center role of the offensive line so quickly in 2024. As such, the only player further on the original depth chart for the team at the center position was rookie center Dylan McMahon. You may have forgotten, but when the Rams offensive line was struggling with injuries, the team signed McMahon directly to the 53-man Rams roster off the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad.

McMahon was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in Round 6 of the 2024 NFL Draft with the 190th overall pick out of N.C. State. Viewed as a backup to all three interior offensive line positions by Eagles OL Coach Jeff Stoutland, he was a mild surprise at not making the Eagles roster after a very strong training camp and preseason.

Despite a mild preseason grade from Pro Football Focus of 59.2, he excelled at pass blocking in preseason, scoring a grade of 78.5. He struggled in one game for the Rams, a Week 18 start that did not showcase his impressive preseason presence.

While he is not All-Pro caliber, McMahon gives the Rams a solid assortment of starters and backups necessary to afford the front office enough flexibility to optimize the offseason by targeting top talent and affordable prices. McMahon was poached by the Rams on September 11, 2024, and was thrust into the roster after training camp and preseason had passed.

In 2025, he has the opportunity to earn his true role by competing among his teammates for a greater share of responsibility. And he returns after a full season under his belt, giving him a significant advantage over 2025 rookies who may be added. This may seem like a ho-hum roster move, but the Rams have to wisely invest in affordable players to ensure a balanced roster that can afford to pay top dollars to others. Tendering ERFA Dylan McMahon is a great step in doing exactly that.

As always, thanks for reading.

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