Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley signed a 4-year contract extension worth $60 million, that includes $45 million guaranteed and ties him up to the Rams for the next six years.
The mammoth deal not only makes Gurley the highest paid running back ever in per year salary, but it resets the RB free-agent market as it’s the most money ever given to a running back.
The contract sets a new benchmark for the league’s other top running backs, including Pittsburgh’s Le’Veon Bell, Arizona’s David Johnson and Dallas’s Ezekiel Elliot.
Gurley, who is entering his fourth NFL season, will be under contract until 2023. Last year Gurley finished second in the NFL with 1,305 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns while catching 64 passes for 788 yards and six receiving TDs. Gurley and the Rams thus accomplish their objective of having this deal in place before the start of training camp.
Although both parts could have waited until next offseason to ink this deal the Rams wanted to do it sooner rather than later because by then the price tag on running backs would most likely be much higher.
By signing Gurley now the Rams potentially save big chunks of money and at the same time secure one of the best running backs in the NFL now.
The 2015 Rookie of the Year has steadily improved as a receiving back as his catches increased from 21 as a rookie to 43 in 2016 and then 64 in 2017.
While Gurley’s contract is good news for NFL rushers everywhere, it’s one more headache for NFL executives who just saw how the entire running back market has increased in value overnight.
