The Los Angeles Rams are firmly in the midst of a rebuild as they look ahead to the 2024 NFL season. However, that doesn’t mean they’re done making moves for 2023. Their most recent move, involving star wide receiver Cooper Kupp, opens the door for one of those moves.
Kupp had a base salary of $13.92 million heading into the season, making him one of the highest-paid players on a Rams team that was both near the bottom of the standings last season and in a cap crunch. However, in the NFL, there are always chances to increase salary cap without getting rid of players.
That’s exactly what the Rams have done with Kupp’s salary, according to Field Yates of ESPN:
The Rams have converted $13.92M of WR Cooper Kupp’s base salary into a signing bonus, creating $10.44M in 2023 cap space, per source.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) June 14, 2023
Converting a player’s base salary to signing bonus is standard practice during the NFL offseason, but the timing of it certainly raises some questions for the Rams. The likeliest reason is to open up space to sign some more of their drafted rookies or for an in-season roster move.
But a few big names have recently become free agents as well in DeAndre Hopkins, Dalvin Cook and Danielle Hunter. Hopkins is more likely looking to join a contending team and figures to make more money than the Rams can offer, making him an unrealistic target. And with Cam Akers expected to take on a bigger workload, there isn’t a huge need for Cook at running back.
But Hunter is the exact type of player the Rams need and can now afford. He would boost a defense that is currently lacking in well-known talent outside of Aaron Donald. Hunter may also prioritize winning in his free agency from the Minnesota Vikings, meaning the Rams are not necessarily in the running.
Either way, the Rams now have the flexibility to be involved in conversations for these types of players now and during the season.
Rams sign Steve Avila to unique contract
The Rams signed their first draft pick of 2023 — second-rounder Steve Avila — to a contract recently. While seemingly a standard deal on the surface, it is the first contract of its kind for a 36th overall pick.
The deal is fully guaranteed for the first three seasons, then has a 10% guarantee on Year 4. No No. 36 pick has ever gotten this type of deal, and could say a lot about how the Rams feel about Avila’s future as a member of the team.
