Rams extend Quentin Lake in time for his expected playoff return
The Los Angeles Rams have reached a contract extension with breakout defensive back Quentin Lake, the team announced on Thursday. Despite Lake not appearing in a game since he was injury on November 16th against the Seattle Seahawks, his absence has made his value to the Rams even more apparent as L.A.’s defense has suffered a collapse in recent weeks without him.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that the Rams gave Lake a three-year, $42 million extension with $25 million guaranteed. As a safety, that would make Lake the 12th-highest paid safety in the league on an annual average salary basis. As a nickel, he would rank much higher. The $25 million guaranteed is a top-10 number for a safety. Lake would have been an unrestricted free agent in March.
A sixth round pick out of UCLA in 2022, Lake has lived up to the standards some set for him as the son of five-time Pro Bowl defensive back Carnell Lake.
After spending his rookie season as a backup, Lake moved into the starting lineup late in the 2023 season and then became a full-time starter in 2024. That year, Lake produced 111 tackles, two sacks, and has proven versatile as a safety and nickel or “star” defender.
Lake started all 10 games he was healthy for this season and has his first career interception.
The Rams opened Lake’s 21-day practice window on Thursday. Sean McVay hopes that he will be able to return to the defense by the wild card round, meaning that Lake most likely won’t return in Week 18 against the Arizona Cardinals, which seems like a smart idea given that they will need him healthy when the playoff start in less than two weeks.
Category: General Sports
