Howard is not injured and there isn’t any layer of off-field detail happening, but my current *sense* is they’re squeezing where they can because of the deals that are locking in this week. Howard’s tender wasn’t a large amount but squeezing all the same. Super talented player.
Matthew Stafford will escalate into throwing over the next several weeks and will get together with receivers to rep where he wasn’t able to this spring. Says he plans to be a full go for camp.
While the Rams are extending Kupp and Donald, they are also creating cap space. Gives them flexibility to bring back an OBJ and make an in-season trade if needed. There may not be a front office with more self-awareness than the Rams.
OTOH when you give players like Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp extensions, you have to cut costs elsewhere. Howard was set to make around $2.5M this season. They have Wagner and Jones in place, but will need guys like Christian Rozeboom or even Jake Hummel to step up.
.
This isn’t to say that Donald or Kupp don’t deserve pay raises – they do. Just that the Rams are tight against the cap as is and need to make room where they can.
Per source for the @RamsNFL: “Kupp’s deal is first, OBJ will be this month. Kupp’s deal will clear more space, could be announced from this week to sometime next week.”
By signing Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp first, the Rams could have driven up the cost of Deebo Samuel and Nick Bosa for the 49ers https://t.co/WbbXAWWzXV
Per source update on the OBJ and@RamsNFL situation: “Personally,I’d be surprised if we don’t get the OBJ deal next week. It’s supposed to be this month.”