The Los Angeles Rams have a busy offseason ahead of them if they hope to avoid too much roster turnover heading into the 2019 NFL season.
There are a number of key players set to hit the market as free agents and the Rams do not have very many resources to work with in order to keep all of them around. As a result, there has been plenty of speculation regarding potential moves they can make in order to clear up more cap space.
Rumors have begun to swirl about running back Todd Gurley being a potential trade candidate this offseason. Regardless, it appears he has no intention of leaving home any time soon.
In an interview with Dime’s Martin Rickman, Gurley was not shy about expressing how much he loves living in Los Angeles:
“Yeah, it is. It definitely is, and I’m starting to develop relationships with different people. But also, it just feels home. You know how when you leave for a little while and you’re like, ‘I can’t wait to get back home?’ That’s it, that’s how you know it’s home. For LA, like, I hate leaving before I even leave. I love it down there.”
Gurley’s comments should hardly come as a surprise considering he has accumulated plenty of star power as a household name in Hollywood. Although he may have begun his career in St. Louis, it is safe to say that he has made himself quite comfortable since the relocation.
There is no question that Gurley is certainly deserving of the recognition he has received after establishing himself as one of the NFL’s premier running backs. His status as a three-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro, and former NFL Offensive Player of the Year ultimately netted him a four-year, $60 million contract extension that included $45 million guaranteed.
Unfortunately, Gurley struggled to provide much bang for his buck in the 2019 campaign by rushing for 857 yards and 12 touchdowns while tacking on 31 receptions for 207 yards and two touchdowns in 15 games. While his underwhelming production could be attributed to his lack of involvement on head coach Sean McVay’s part, questions remain about whether or not he is still being held back by a lingering injury.
The Rams caught some flak for making Gurley the highest-paid running back in the NFL since the position has been considered expendable in today’s pass-heavy league, however, they made it clear that it was more than just a business decision. It will be interesting to see if they keep that same approach this offseason.
