As has been the case in recent years, the Los Angeles Rams proved they were not afraid to reward their stars with lucrative deals.
The Rams and Aaron Donald agreed on a contract restructure of $95 million, making the star defensive tackle the highest non-paid quarterback in the league. Los Angeles immediately followed that up by extending Cooper Kupp to a three-year, $80 million extension with $75 million guaranteed. It is the highest amount of guaranteed money ever given to a wide receiver, though it was well-deserved for Kupp, who had one of the most historic receiver seasons in NFL history.
Locking up Donald and Kupp for the foreseeable future is good business for the Rams, who have made it their modus operandi to build around its stars. But those deals also cause a ripple effect across the rest of the roster. In order to clear enough cap space for Donald and Kupp’s contracts, Los Angeles waived inside linebacker Travin Howard.
According to Field Yates of ESPN, Howard cleared waivers and is officially a free agent:
Former Rams LB Travin Howard, who made critical plays in the playoffs for them, cleared waivers and is now a free agent.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) June 9, 2022
Howard stepped up in the middle when Ernest Jones suffered an ankle injury, and his biggest moment with the Rams came in the NFC Championship Game when he picked off Jimmy Garoppolo to send them to Super Bowl LVI. However, after L.A. agreed to terms with Bobby Wagner, Howard became third on the inside linebacker depth chart and it seems like he was no longer deemed a priority.
Of course, this does not mean Howard’s time with the Rams is done as they could potentially bring him back on a cheaper deal assuming no one else signs him. It will be interesting to see where Howard ends up, but hopefully it is back in Los Angeles.
