Rams working to extend Kyren’s contract

[brucebruce]

smart move. all in while Stafford is the QB. no time to muck around testing unproven RBs.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

Kyren hasn’t had many of those lanes either. Rams are going to need a speedster with the vision Kyren has…

Those are a lot harder to find. Luckily, this is a deep class of roll players. They could certainly find the “speed threat” in the later rounds, but I doubt they’re going to find someone to send Kyren to the sidelines in this draft

Well ya never know, but regardless we need that change of pace back with the speed element. The more weapons we have to threaten the defense the better. Kyren needs to get spelled every now and then or they'll end up riding him into the dirt sooner then the Rams would like.

 

[Ramrasta]

This is a good running back class. We should be able to find a speedster. Basically someone that can take it to the house when they get that lane you can drive a truck through. Kyren can't do that.

This draft is generational at RB. Plenty of homerun hitters. Obviously Ashton Jeanty but also Omarion Hampton, Treveyon Henderson, Kaleb Johnson, Ollie Gordon, and RJ Harvey.

You also have guys that could likely replace Kyren’s role in Quinshon Judkins and Cam Skattebo.

We dont need to resign Kyren if he wants top dollar.

 

[ottoman89]

Once again, DO NOT PAY KYREN WILLIAMS type RBs. You pay the Jacobs, Barkleys, Henry's.

 

[FrantikRam]

I have to think that is going to be a good deal for us....Barkley is making what, $11 million per year? So Kyren would be worth around $6 million per year max

 

[OnceARam]

It would be dumb to pay a RB that fumbles, especially since his replacement is on the roster.

 

[muggmeister]

Give him a Miles Sanders type contract, 4 years, $25.4M. If he don't like it draft another to back to complement Corum. I do think Corum can and will be our stud RB, just a matter of when.

 

[Turducken]

Kyren has been a steal on his rookie deal. Just a great kid busting his ass every day. I love that his mom gets end zone seats so he can hand her his TD footballs. Give me more young players like him.

He's only made about $2.7m over his three seasons (two as feature back), but he'll be due $5.3m next season before he's a UFA. Barring major injury, I'd expect him to play three more productive seasons at current workload and I want him to stay in horns.

If I was Snead I'd want to offer him three seasons after 2025 at maybe $8m/year (about $29m total over next 4 seasons). Include a $12m signing bonus. It would set him for life and send a message to our players on their rookie deals.

He'll be 25 next season, so I wouldn't offer upfront guaranteed money after the 2026 season. RB's almost always age faster than their contracts. If everything works out, Kyren finishes this deal at 29 and then goes year-to-year until retirement. But if he's hurt or grinds down early, he would have still earned $15m for his time with us.

 

[CGI_Ram]

I am a fan of young cheap legs at RB. A little more speed would be great at RB.

 

[Allen2McVay]

Regarding the Rams potentially extending Williams now. Consider the 2025 Cap Hit.

Specifically, consider the Escalator Clauses in rookie contracts.

This is not an area I fully understand but posters (@OldSchool and @dieterbrock) have mentioned it in recent posts.

Below is a Wikipedia definition:
In the context of NFL rookie contracts, an "escalator clause" refers to a Proven Performance Escalator (PPE), which is a provision that allows certain players to increase their salary in the fourth year of their rookie contract based on their performance in the first three years.

Essentially, it's a performance-based raise designed to reward rookies who demonstrate a certain level of play and contribute significantly to their team.

Because the Rams have been so successful with late round picks recently, it appears that Williams, along with Lake, Durant and Kendrick, have all earned larger 2025 salaries because of these escalators.
Great for them but bigger cap hits for the Rams.

If these four players (all entering their 4th year) were to play under their ORIGINAL rookie contract terms, their COMBINED cap hit WOULD be around $5.5M.

Per OTC, accounting for the escalators, their combined cap hit WILL be around $15.5M, with Williams having the biggest number (approximately $5.3M).

Keep in mind, that I believe these OTC amounts reflecting the escalators are ESTIMATES.

Regardless, former fifth round picks (like Kyren Williams) are normally a salary cap bargain. The Escalator, which he has certainly earned, makes Williams a legit cap hit. An extension could favor both Williams in 2025 money ... AND ... could favor the Rams by REDUCING his 2025 cap hit.

By-the-way, these Escalators are why I (personally) hope the Rams cut Kendrick ... too big a cap hit.

 

[OldSchool]

Regarding the Rams potentially extending Williams now. Consider the 2025 Cap Hit.

Specifically, consider the Escalator Clauses in rookie contracts.

This is not an area I fully understand but posters (@OldSchool and @dieterbrock) have mentioned it in recent posts.

Below is a Wikipedia definition:
In the context of NFL rookie contracts, an "escalator clause" refers to a Proven Performance Escalator (PPE), which is a provision that allows certain players to increase their salary in the fourth year of their rookie contract based on their performance in the first three years.

Essentially, it's a performance-based raise designed to reward rookies who demonstrate a certain level of play and contribute significantly to their team.

Because the Rams have been so successful with late round picks recently, it appears that Williams, along with Lake, Durant and Kendrick, have all earned larger 2025 salaries because of these escalators.
Great for them but bigger cap hits for the Rams.

If these four players (all entering their 4th year) were to play under their ORIGINAL rookie contract terms, their COMBINED cap hit WOULD be around $5.5M.

Per OTC, accounting for the escalators, their combined cap hit WILL be around $15.5M, with Williams having the biggest number (approximately $5.3M).

Keep in mind, that I believe these OTC amounts reflecting the escalators are ESTIMATES.

Regardless, former fifth round picks (like Kyren Williams) are normally a salary cap bargain. The Escalator, which he has certainly earned, makes Williams a legit cap hit. An extension could favor both Williams in 2025 money ... AND ... could favor the Rams by REDUCING his 2025 cap hit.

By-the-way, these Escalators are why I (personally) hope the Rams cut Kendrick ... too big a cap hit.

It's something that's been around for a while now but usually it was a tweet we posted about a rookie earning a bonus. But as more posters have started looking at spotrac and otc it's beco.e more visible. We'll likely see the 2025 base pay for him and DK early March around the start of the league year and when the cap number is finalized.

 

[Ram65]

My love-hate relationship with Kyren Williams makes me think twice about a big contract. Referencing @Allen2McVay Escalator Clause it makes sense to give him an extension without breaking the bank. He and the Rams need to work on his ball security.

I'm adding more speed at RB camp.

 

[Allen2McVay]

It's something that's been around for a while now ...

Well, some of us are a little slow ...

 

[Flatlyner]

I am not in favor of this. I also was not in favor of them not using Corum more for evaluation purposes. He could be every bit the back Williams is and we could grab a back very easily in this draft that is talented. Do not pay RB's a 2nd contract. I believe we have done that in the past and it was a big error. Use that money on CB, WR, or TE.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I am not in favor of this. I also was not in favor of them not using Corum more for evaluation purposes. He could be every bit the back Williams is and we could grab a back very easily in this draft that is talented. Do not pay RB's a 2nd contract. I believe we have done that in the past and it was a big error. Use that money on CB, WR, or TE.

Corum has not proven to have Kyren’s ability to consistently find the tight windows in traffic nor the same level of cutting to get to those windows. Plus Kyren blocks much better.

 

[Loyal]

Honest question-- I wonder how hard it is to find a back like that?

We all say "we want a back like Jahmyr Gibbs" but those guys seem pretty damn rare to me.

They are rare, that's why you have to go "hard in the paint" to get one. I wanted him bad but was in the minority here. McSnead is satisfied with having a shifty RB that fumbles every once in a while and who get taken down from behind after 10 yards. He does score TD's, so there is that.

 

[Loyal]

Once again, DO NOT PAY KYREN WILLIAMS type RBs. You pay the Jacobs, Barkleys, Henry's.

and Gurleys... ~ Otto in 2017

 

[Tumak61]

I would be surprised to see Williams extended at this point.

 

[OldSchool]

Well, some of us are a little slow ...

Glad you said us there I pride myself in not being a speedster more of a cross country long distance thing.

 

[Ramhusker]

This draft is generational at RB. Plenty of homerun hitters. Obviously Ashton Jeanty but also Omarion Hampton, Treveyon Henderson, Kaleb Johnson, Ollie Gordon, and RJ Harvey.

You also have guys that could likely replace Kyren’s role in Quinshon Judkins and Cam Skattebo.

We dont need to resign Kyren if he wants top dollar.

Been mock drafting already and all those names have come up a lot. I like KW, would hate to change him and Kupp out in the same season but too many good backs in this draft that will fall to us. I would like to keep KW and let him compete for the starts with a draft pick or two.