LOS ANGELES — The Rams will not be allowing Quentin Lake to hit free agency.
The team announced on Thursday that it had signed the fourth-year safety to a three-year contract extension, ensuring that Lake will not hit the open market this spring. The deal is worth $42 million with $25.7 million guaranteed, according to multiple media reports.
“It’s something that you dream of,” Lake said. “I think the coolest thing about it was seeing the reaction from teammates.”
The Rams players learned about Lake’s extension in the locker room on Thursday morning. Soon, he was swarmed by teammates celebrating the deal and that their captain would be returning for another three seasons.
“When you have people yelling and screaming, congratulating you, coming up saying, ‘Well deserved,’ it makes you feel good,” Lake said. “It was a pretty special moment.”
“That’s somebody that outside of here texts people if they’re having a hard time,” outside linebacker Jared Verse added. “He’s the first to congratulate you, he’s the first to suffer with you.”
Lake said that the initial talks about potential extension began in the offseason but not much progress was made. He said he felt like if he continued to put together strong performances on tape, then the rest would take care of itself. Through the process, he wanted the Rams to know that he remained open to an extension and that there would be no hurt feelings over a deal not coming to pass sooner rather than later.
Part of the draw was to stay in the area where he grew up as a product of Mater Dei and UCLA. Getting that long-term extension was a goal that he wrote down in one of his many notebooks early in his career.
In his second season as a team captain, Lake has been instrumental to the Rams’ defense the last two years. When he has been healthy, he’s hardly come off the field as he’s bounced between safety and nickel cornerback.
A former sixth-round pick, Lake is the first defensive player drafted by the Rams to receive an extension to his rookie contract since Aaron Donald.
“I’m so excited,” defensive coordinator Chris Shula said. “You talk about a guy that does everything right, you talk about everything you want in a Ram. He’s meant so much to this defense, he’s meant so much to me personally just in my first couple years being the DC. So any time you get guys that do it right that are great players that get rewarded, it’s great to see.”
Lake has missed the last six games following surgery on a dislocated elbow, and his absence has only made his importance to what the Rams do on defense more pronounced.
Without Lake, the Rams have ranked 10th in estimated points added (EPA) per play on dropbacks (-0.053) and 21st in rush EPA per play (-0.029). The Rams ranked third in both categories in the first nine games of the season prior to Lake’s injury.
“He does so many things and wears so many hats for this defense,” Shula said. “He’s a great tackler and he’s really physical. I always say, he doesn’t get enough credit for how physical he plays. He plays extremely hard every single snap.”
Lake is the second midseason extension the Rams have made this year after deciding to keep linebacker Nate Landman in the fold for another three years. Both extensions mark a change for a team that hasn’t invested heavily in the back seven of its defense much in the past couple of seasons.
“I hope every guy gets paid,” Lake said. “It’s not more so the financials, it’s just understanding that, man, these people believe in you. They have faith in what you do.”
The Rams opened Lake’s practice window on Thursday, giving him 21 days before he must return to the active roster. Head coach Sean McVay said Wednesday that he expects Lake to be ready for the playoffs.
“It feels great,” Lake said of returning to practice as a full participant, albeit on scout team. “My arm feels great. I’m ahead of schedule. … I feel strong. I’m confident in it.”
Injury report
Rams receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) returned to practice for the first time since Week 15 on Thursday. He ran light routes during the period of practice open to media. He was listed as a limited participant.
RB Kyren Williams (ankle), LT Alaric Jackson (knee), DE Braden Fiske (ankle), LB Omar Speights (ankle) and S Jaylen McCollough (hip) were also limited participants.
RB Blake Corum (ankle) did not practice on Thursday, instead rehabbing on the sidelines while his teammates were on the field. Right guard Kevin Dotson (ankle) was also a non-participant, walking around the practice field with a limp.