San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
RAMS IN LOCK-DOWN MODE
They sign WR Kupp to an extension three days after Ramsey
The Rams are set to open the new $5 billion Sofi Stadium tonight against the Dallas Cowboys — and Saturday they secured another big piece of their foundation.
The Rams signed receiver Cooper Kupp to a three-year contract extension. Terms were not disclosed, but the deal could be worth as much as $48 million, a person with knowledge of the situation said.
Kupp, 27, secured his deal three days after the Rams gave cornerback Jalen Ramsey a five-year, $105 million extension that includes $71.2 million in guarantees, making him the highest-paid player at his position in NFL history.
Kupp, like Ramsey, was entering the final year of his rookie contract. The 2017 third-round draft pick from
Today: 5:20 p.m., Sofi Stadium, Inglewood Line: Cowboys by 3
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Eastern Washington was scheduled to earn $2.4 million in salary and bonuses this season, according to overthecap.com.
Kupp said this week that he would “love to be a Ram” long term.
“My thoughts on that have not changed,” he told reporters. “I love it here. I love my teammates. I love the coaches here.”
The Rams now have four key players under contract through at least 2023. Defensive tackle Aaron Donald signed a six-year, $135 million extension in 2018. Quarterback Jared Goff signed a five-year, $134 million extension before last season. Goff, Kupp, Donald and Ramsey are the highestpaid pillars for a team attempting to rebound from last season’s 9-7 finish that left them out of the playoffs for the first time under coach Sean Mcvay.
Kupp has flourished in Mcvay’s offense as part of a receiver corps that has included Robert Woods and Josh Reynolds throughout Kupp’s career. In 2017, receiver Sammy Watkins played for the Rams. Brandin Cooks played for the Rams in 2018 and 2019.
During the offseason, the Rams released star running back Todd Gurley and traded Cooks to clear salarycap space for impending extensions for Ramsey and Kupp.
Kupp is expected to have a large role against the Cowboys in a showcase game on “Sunday Night Football.” Kickoff is scheduled for 5:20 p.m at the open-air stadium covered by a roof. But there is a chance it could be delayed.
Because of conditions resulting from wildfires, the Rams and the NFL are monitoring the air-quality index. The NFL “will be prepared to relocate a game if there is definitive evidence that the AQI will remain consistently above 200 for a significant period of time, including the day of the game being played in the affected stadium,” according to the NFL game operations manual.
Regardless, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, no fans will be in the stands of a stadium that holds about 70,000 for football.
“It’s still a prime-time game,” Woods said. “The energy will be there, and we’re going to bring the noise ourselves.” The game will serve as the first test for Mcvay’s remade coaching staff and roster.
Defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, 37, will call his first NFL game against a high-powered Cowboys offense that features quarterback Dak Prescott, running back Ezekiel Elliott and receiver Amari Cooper.
Staley has indicated that the Rams will run a hybrid 3-4 scheme, with Ramsey expected to line up at various spots.
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