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Lindsey ThiryESPN
The Los Angeles Rams and receiver Robert Woods have agreed to terms on a four-year $65 million extension, including $32 million guaranteed, a source told ESPN. The contract has a $68 million maximum value.
On Thursday, a day before the Woods and the Rams agreed to terms, Rams coach Sean McVay said an extension would be done “Very shortly,” while Woods expressed hope that it would be completed before a Week 2 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday.
“Just praying that it gets done on time and really just trying to go out there and execute what I do on the field and let my play do the talking for me,” Woods said. “Which it has.”
Woods outplayed the five-year, $34 million deal that he originally signed with the Rams in 2017, and the deal was expanded to $39 million through performance and a conversion of his base salary.
Over the last three seasons, Woods ranks among the top 11 NFL receivers in receptions, receiving yards and yards after catch. He produced consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2018 and 2019 and last season led all NFL receivers with 577 yards after the catch. Last Sunday, in a Week 1 20-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, Woods had six receptions for 105 yards.
His deal is the latest in a flurry of extensions that the Rams have completed over the last two weeks. Two days before the season opener, cornerback Jalen Ramsey signed a record-breaking five-year, $105 extension that included $71.2 million guaranteed at signing, the most lucrative contract for a defensive back in NFL history. A day later, wide receiver Cooper Kupp signed a three-year, $48 million extension.
When asked if he grew concerned that the Rams might not have the resources to extend him following Ramsey and Kupp’s deals, Woods smiled. “This is a billion-dollar industry. I feel like there’s always money,” he said, before joking, “Especially with Denver doing well — the Nuggets. There’s a little bit of money somewhere.”
Rams owner Stan Kroenke also owns the Nuggets, who are appearing in the Western Conference Finals of the NBA playoffs.
McVay said he spoke with Woods following Kupp’s extension, reiterating his desire to also keep Woods – who he called a pillar of the offense — around long term.
“[McVay] just kind of put his arm around me and said, he’s happy to have me hear, been a true competitor since I stepped on his team,” said Woods, who turned 28 last April. “He kind of just reassured me that this deal would be taken care of this week, and really have no other concerns. We take each other’s word, we believe in it, we go forward and we’re locked on to get this thing done and look forward to Philadelphia.”
Woods was previously scheduled to earn $5 million this season and his contract was set to expire at the end of the 2021 season.
A second-round pick in 2013 by Bills, Woods played four seasons in Buffalo where he had 2,451 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. Since joining the Rams, Woods has caught 238 passes for 3,239 yards and 13 touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 298 yards and two scores.
