LOS ANGELES – Robert Woods is off to a different sturdy begin with the Los Angeles Rams in a profession that has all the time exceeded expectations, and his crew is planning to reward him for it.
Rams coach Sean McVay on Thursday all however assured Woods will get a contract extension quickly, conserving one other franchise cornerstone in his native Los Angeles for the long run.
That was precisely what Woods needed to listen to. Later Thursday, he made a public request for an even bigger deal, saying it was “simply pressing. As quickly as potential.”
The 28-year-old Woods is already signed by means of 2021 in a deal that pays him $9 million subsequent season, however the Rams have repeatedly mentioned they need to bump up Woods’ pay to a stage commensurate together with his achievements and management. Woods led the NFL final season with 577 yards after the catch whereas racking up 1,134 yards receiving on a career-high 90 receptions.
Los Angeles already reached a deal final week with Woods’ counterpart, receiver Cooper Kupp, who bought a three-year, $48 million extension by means of 2023.
“We need to get (Woods) prolonged, too,” McVay mentioned. “He’s an enormous a part of what we’re doing. That’s one thing I feel is certainly vital. … Robert and Cooper have been pillars of what we’ve carried out the previous couple of years. It’s nice to get Cooper beneath contract. I’m so comfortable for him, and you’ll count on to see one thing related down the road right here very shortly we’re working towards for Robert.”
Woods can also be wanting to signal a brand new deal earlier than the Rams head to Philadelphia this weekend to face the Eagles, however the sides aren’t fairly completed but.
“Hopefully it will get carried out,” Woods mentioned. “It’s been within the talks. Simply praying that it will get carried out on time. Actually simply making an attempt to go on the market and execute and let my play do my speaking on my subject for me, which it has.”
Woods was instantly in high type within the Rams’ 20-17 victory over Dallas within the inaugural recreation at SoFi Stadium final week. He had six catches for 105 yards, together with a 20-yard seize on the primary play from scrimmage at SoFi, and he added a 14-yard run.
Woods’ velocity, consistency and precision have made him one of many NFL’s best receivers since he joined his hometown Rams in 2017 from Buffalo, the place he spent his first 4 seasons. Woods bought a five-year, $34 million deal to return to LA, however the Rams already bumped up his wage early within the contract when it was clear he was outperforming the deal.
The Southern California product instantly took to McVay’s offence, placing up 781 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2017 earlier than ramping as much as a career-high 1,219 yards receiving with six touchdowns in 2018. McVay continuously targets him for receiver screens, and Woods additionally options recurrently within the Rams’ operating recreation on jet sweeps, carrying the ball 36 instances within the final two years.
“You end up in an elite state of affairs the place you are able to do what you’re able to, and now it’s time to receives a commission what you should receives a commission,” Woods mentioned. “Now it’s time to receives a commission by your play. I really feel like coming in, it was what it was, and now my play is elevated.”
Advocating for himself would not come naturally to a team-first man like Woods, however he’s doing it this week, albeit with a smile on his face. He laughed concerning the success of the Denver Nuggets, the NBA crew owned by Rams proprietor Stan Kroenke’s household enterprise.
“This can be a billion-dollar business,” he mentioned. “I really feel like there’s all the time cash. Even when they’re saying there’s not, there’s cash someplace. … Denver is doing effectively, the Nuggets. There’s bought to be slightly bit of cash someplace.”
Woods’ efficiency towards the Cowboys was the 12th 100-yard receiving recreation of his profession. He has caught no less than 40 passes within the first seven seasons of his NFL profession with the Rams and the Payments, who drafted him within the second spherical in 2013. Woods has additionally been wholesome all through his total profession, taking part in no less than 12 video games in each season.
The Rams’ entrance workplace beneath normal supervisor Les Snead has a historical past of rewarding its elite gamers with top-of-the-market contracts, even when the gamers do not get to stay round lengthy sufficient to play them out.
In a two-year span, the Rams have given out the largest contracts in NFL historical past on the time to a operating again (Todd Gurley), a quarterback (Jared Goff), a defensive participant (Aaron Donald) and a cornerback (Jalen Ramsey). Los Angeles additionally signed receiver Brandin Cooks to a profitable extension proper after buying and selling for him in 2018, solely to commerce him to Houston final spring.
Ramsey bought his five-year, $105 million extension throughout the week earlier than the season opener, adopted by a wholesome extension for Kupp.
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