The Los Angeles Rams announced kicker Matt Gay signed a one-year, restricted free agent tender that will keep him with the team for the 2022 season.
Gay is the second player to sign an original-round tender with the Rams this offseason, joining linebacker Travin Howard. Per the tender’s details, Gay is set to make $2.54 million for the upcoming season.
Gay was one of the few bright spots for the Los Angeles special teams unit as he made 32 of his 34 field goal attempts during the 2021 season. He also drilled 48 of 49 of his PATs, an excellent mark that contributed to the Rams’ high-scoring offense. For his great performance during the season, Gay earned his first Pro Bowl honors.
During the postseason, Gay remained as accurate as he hit 8-of-10 field-goal attempts and all 11 of his PATs. Gay’s best moment came in the NFC Divisional Round against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when he nailed the game-winning field goal to send the Rams to the NFC Championship Game.
Los Angeles was in dire need of a kicker after Greg Zuerlein left for the Dallas Cowboys in free agency. The Rams cycled through Sam Sloman and Kai Forbath before signing Gay, a move that has paid dividends since.
While Gay is under contract for next season, his salary is unguaranteed which means the team could theoretically cut him. However, that is incredibly unlikely given how well he has played in L.A. and the lack of options behind him.
Should Gay remain productive in the 2022 season, it will be interesting to see if he and the Rams negotiate a longer-term deal. Special teams has been the Achilles heel for Los Angeles for several years now, so it would make sense for them to secure one of their lone bright spots on that unit for the foreseeable future.
