Rams’ biggest offseason priority: re-signing Sean McVay, Les Snead
SEATTLE — Now that the Rams’ season is over, they will begin deciding when to offer extensions to key players such as receiver Puka Nacua, defensive lineman Kobie Turner, edge rusher Byron Young and offensive lineman Steve Avila.
But there are much more urgent contracts to consider. Like that of the most important person in the organization: coach Sean McVay.
And that of the second most important person: general manager Les Snead.
McVay and Snead are entering the final years of their contracts, as is COO Tony Pastoors. And if the Rams want to continue their streak of success, they need to make sure McVay and Snead continue their nine-year partnership.
McVay, 40, has led the Rams to two Super Bowls, winning one and seven playoff appearances since they hired him in 2017. He can name his price and will almost certainly become the highest-paid coach in the NFL.
He made $15 million this season, according to Sportico, tied for sixth behind Andy Reid ($20 million), Sean Payton ($18 million), John Harbaugh ($17 million), Mike Tomlin ($16 million) and Jim Harbaugh ($16 million).
Snead, 55, became general manager in 2012. He survived the firing of coach Jeff Fisher after the 2016 season and became one of the NFL’s most forward-thinking executives.
The Rams gave extensions to McVay and Snead after Super Bowl appearances during the 2018 and 2021 seasons. Both had offers on the table before this season but postponed signing new deals.
McVay flirted with the idea of leaving coaching for broadcasting, at least temporarily, due to burnout after the 2021 championship season turned into a miserable 2022. But he has since said it has been renewed and refreshed – and no big-name broadcasting jobs are open at the moment.
Snead is a lifer recruiter and a lifer player, but also a Renaissance man. At some point he might seek a new journey.
Pastoors made all of his dreams come true from a salary cap perspective and mentored contracts executive Matthew Shearin.
After their victory in Super Bowl LVI, the Rams gave big extensions or raises to quarterback Matthew Stafford, receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive lineman Aaron Donald. They pulled out financially after their historic Super Bowl hangover the following season, opting for a “remodel,” as Snead called it, in 2023.
That freed up cap space and allowed the Rams to begin rebuilding the roster, which has blossomed this season with third-year stars such as Nacua and veterans such as Stafford and Davante Adams.
The Rams didn’t wait until the end of the season to lock up key members of their core.
During training camp, they re-signed running back Kyren Williams to a three-year contract that included approximately $23 million in guarantees. In November, they extended linebacker Nate Landman for three years with nearly $16 million in guarantees. In January, they re-signed safety Quentin Lake for three years and over $25 million guaranteed.
The Rams are projected to have a cap hit of $46.5 million, according to Overthecap.com.
Nacua should get a monster extension, and Turner, Young and Avila should also be paid. And if Stafford returns for an 18th season, after his MVP-caliber performance, he will undoubtedly demand a raise.
But first, the Rams should lock up the team that built this team: McVay and Snead.
