The Athletic loves 2 Rams under-the-radar extensions for key contributors

Even as fans and Los Angeles Rams sites hover near their smartphones and personal computers, hoping to catch a whiff of general manager Les Snead's latest signings, there are other moves worth discussing. After all, Snead's strategy is not built on a foundation of headline moves. He is far too clever for that.

LA's general manager loves to tweak the roster down to its last player. And as the image of what the final roster may look like starts to form, fans are suddenly confronted with a well-rounded team that has addressed many of the concerns and challenges from the previous season.

Well, at least one media outlet has noticed. The Athletic's Mike Jones and Daniel Popper co-authored an article about NFL free agency early activity. In the article, they cited two Los Angeles extensions: Tight end Tyler Higbee and defensive back Kam Curl. Not surprisingly, they loved the under-the-radar moves from Les Snead.

The Athletic loves the Rams re-signing Kam Curl and Tyler Higbee

Kam Curl extension:
Top 150 ranking: 23
Reported deal: 3 years, $36 million
Grade: A

The team had a much larger strategy in place before extending Kam Curl. The first indication was Quentin Lake's extension. But now that the team has added both Kansas City Chiefs cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, the image is coming into focus.

This is a secondary designed to stop, not just slow down, opposing receivers.

"Curl is extremely versatile and provides strong support against the run and is also viewed as a valuable leader for the defense. "

Mike Jones

And then the pair turned to tight end Tyler Higbee.

Tyler Higbee extension:
Top 150 ranking: 58
Reported deal: 2 years, $8 million
Grade: B

Tyler Higbee may be viewed by some as excessive, and will return to this extension if the team fails to adequately address another position of need. But Daniel Popper points to the frequency and success of this offense in 13 personnel from 2025. Ensureing there are four healthy and competitive tight ends does not seem like a luxury in that context.

"... the Rams used 13 personnel on 30.5 percent of their offensive snaps last season, the highest rate in the league, according to TruMedia. So if there is a team that needs four quality tight ends, it is the Rams."

Daniel Popper

Ultimately, there were no smoke and mirrors to these extensions. Solid players got solid contracts, and that's how Snead likes to conduct his business. He views the entire roster, and not just NFL headliners, as an opportunity to improve the team and enhance the chances of success.

Clearly, the Athletic believes he has done exactly that.

As always, thanks for reading.