Jared Goff agrees to Rams contract extension that guarantees a record $110 million
Throughout negotiations about a possible contract extension, Rams quarterback Jared Goff publicly maintained that he was not worried. As long as he did his job and played well, he said, the situation would work itself out.
Last week, a reporter asked Goff whether he thought much about, or discussed with his family, the potential huge dollars, or if it was only abstract.
“Right now, it’s absolutely abstract because it doesn’t exist yet,” he said, “but, hopefully, one day it will.”
Abstract became reality Tuesday when the Rams announced they had agreed to terms with Goff on a four-year extension through the 2024 season. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it is worth $134 million, with a record $110 million guaranteed, a person with knowledge of the situation said. Goff had two years left on his rookie contract, making the total value of the package worth $161 million.
Goff, 24, agreed to terms the day before the Rams begin game-week preparations for Sunday’s opener against the Carolina Panthers at Charlotte, N.C.
Rams haven’t faced Christian McCaffrey as a Carolina Panther, but many have been burned by the multi-faceted running back when he played at Stanford.
That was regarded as the preferred scenario by the Rams and coach Sean McVay. They did not want Goff to start the season or play any part of it with uncertainty about his future with a franchise that selected him with the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NFL draft.
The Rams were off Tuesday. Goff had been scheduled to speak with reporters after practice Wednesday.
Goff is the fourth Rams player in a little more than a year to receive a massive extension.
In July 2018, receiver Brandin Cooks signed a five-year, $81-million deal that includes nearly $51 million in guarantees, and running back Todd Gurley got a four-year deal with $45 million guaranteed.
In August 2018, defensive tackle Aaron Donald signed a six-year, $135-million extension, with $86 million guaranteed.
Goff was to receive $4.3 million this season and carried a salary-cap number of $8.9 million. He would have been paid more than $22 million next season playing on a fifth-year option.
Goff’s new deal eclipses the $128-million extension, with $107 million guaranteed, the Philadelphia Eagles gave quarterback Carson Wentz in June.
NFL teams in recent years had waited until after a quarterback’s fourth season before offering an extension. But the Wentz deal changed that paradigm and pushed up the timeline for the Rams, who chose Goff ahead of Wentz in the draft.
“I’m sure Jared went to bed happy last night,” Kevin Demoff, the Rams’ chief operating officer, said the day after the Wentz deal was announced.
Goff and Wentz are represented by the same firm, REP 1 Sports, which also represents Cooks, backup quarterback Blake Bortles and receiver Cooper Kupp.
So the Rams were optimistic that negotiations with agent Ryan Tollner would proceed without major stumbling blocks.
Goff became a star and Pro Bowl selection in the last two seasons under McVay. Goff rebounded from a 0-7 record as a rookie starter under former coach Jeff Fisher’s staff to compile a 24-7 record since. Goff has completed 62% of his passes, 65 for touchdowns, with 26 interceptions.
“As long as I’m fortunate enough to be in this role, hopefully this guy is stuck with me for a long time,” McVay said in June.
Previewing the 2019 NFL season as the league celebrates its 100th year and the Rams and Chargers look to contend for the Super Bowl LIV title.
At the start of training camp in July, McVay and general manager Les Snead received contract extensions. In regard to an extension for Goff, Snead said, “It’s not a matter of if, it’s just when.”
That day arrived Tuesday.
After news broke of Goff’s new deal, teammates took to social media to congratulate him.
“Congratulations to the man @JaredGoff16 nobody is more deserving!!” tight end Tyler Higbee tweeted.
“Yeeeaaa JG!! Congrats bro, let’s get it!” tweeted running back Malcolm Brown, adding two money bag emojis for effect.
Tweeted punter Johnny Hekker: “This year’s o-line Christmas present is gonna be insane.”
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