Waiting to pay this playmaker could cost Rams millions (and it's not Puka Nacua)

The Los Angeles Rams are all-in on chasing a Super Bowl, and their moves this offseason have shown that. Even so, they have a battalion of players set to hit free agency next spring. That remains a looming concern amid all the excitement.

Receiver Puka Nacua is the biggest name of the bunch, but he's hardly the only headliner. The longer the Rams wait, the higher the price for defensive lineman Kobie Turner becomes.

NFL insider Jeremy Fowler reported that the belief is the Rams won't extend Turner, along with Puka Nacua, Byron Young, and Steve Avila, this summer. After swinging for Myles Garrett, L.A. appears willing to risk that extension candidates like Turner will boost their value substantially in the meantime.

Rams should pay Kobie Turner before his price soars

Turner came into the league as a third-round pick in 2023 and has developed into one of the best defensive linemen on the team. Over 51 games (37 starts), he has amassed 27 tackles for loss, 43 quarterbacks hits, 24 sacks, and nine pass deflections. In each of his three campaigns, Turner has logged at least 48 total pressures, per Pro Football Focus, and seven-plus sacks.

Turner can play all over the defensive line, but he did most of his damage when lined up at defensive tackle. His blend of speed and power has given offensive linemen fits. On the heels of another impactful season, he could easily command over $30 million per season.

Teams will back up the Brink's truck for a player of Turner's caliber. Since the Rams traded for Garrett, they have appeared open to rolling the dice on multiple players, but taking that approach with Turner could end up hurting their pockets. As Ramblin' Fan's own Bret Stuter points out, Turner brings far more than his on-field contributions.

He is the type of presence you want to keep around for the long term. Los Angeles is playing a precarious game. Spotrac projects Turner's next contract in the range of four years, $129.2 million. With how productive the Wake Forest alum has been, perhaps that number could rise even higher. It's worth noting that Jeffery Simmons' record three-year, $105.8 million extension with the Titans has reset the market for defensive tackles.

Turner's PFF numbers reinforce just how effective he has been:

There is no downplaying how good Turner has been for the Rams. The longer they wait on an extension, the more money they'll have to cough up to keep him. For now, that seems to be the bed L.A. is ready to lie in.

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