Rams GM: Goff, Gurley deserved 'to be compensated'

Over the past two seasons, the Los Angeles Rams signed Jared Goff and Todd Gurley to two of the biggest contracts in NFL history. And despite the team's recent struggles, general manager Les Snead thinks both stars have justified their deals.

"Those are human beings that gave a lot to this organization and deserve to be compensated," Snead said Tuesday, according to ESPN's Lindsey Thiry.

In September, Goff agreed to a four-year, $143-million extension, which included a league-record $110 million in guaranteed money. That happened almost a year after Gurley became the highest-paid running back at the time through his four-year, $57.5-million extension ($45 million guaranteed).

Goff, who posted a career year in 2018 with 4,688 passing yards and 32 touchdowns against 12 interceptions, threw 22 TDs and 16 INTs this past season.

Gurley's decline was even more significant, as the former Offensive Player of the Year amassed 1,064 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2019. He took the league by storm with 3,924 scrimmage yards and 40 TDs over the previous two campaigns. The 25-year-old also finished with a career-low 223 carries in 2019.

"We didn't run the ball this year as well as we have," Snead said. "We definitely want to get back to being more efficient running the football."

Among other Rams to sign big contracts recently are defensive tackle Aaron Donald (six years, $135 million) and wide receiver Brandin Cooks (five years, $80 million). Recently acquired cornerback Jalen Ramsey is set to enter the last year of his rookie deal in 2020 and will also be seeking an extension.

The league's salary cap is projected to increase from $188.2 million to about $200 million in 2020.

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