Rams react to Safety Quentin Lake's three-year extension

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. -- Los Angeles Rams safety and team captain Quentin Lake signed a three-year, $42M contract extension that will keep the 2022 sixth round pick in Los Angeles through the 2028 season.

According to Spotrac, Lake will earn an average annual salary of $14 million during the 2026, 2027 and 2028 seasons, and the deal includes $25.7 million guaranteed.

The 26-year-old out of UCLA entered 2025 in the final year of his rookie contract and will remain a member of the Rams for the next three seasons. 

The fourth-year pro played every defensive snap for Los Angeles before sustaining a dislocated elbow against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 11. He is set to return from injured reserve in time for the Rams wild card round matchup. 

In 10 games this season, Lake totaled one interception, 10 passes defended, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one sack and 61 total tackles.

In 50 career NFL games, the defensive back has collected 235 tackles, 22 passes defended, four sacks and one interception.

The 26-year-old expressed gratitude toward the organization and reflected on the moments after signing the dotted line.

“Luckily enough this organization took a chance on me, they believed in me," Lake said. "I think the coolest thing about it was seeing the reaction from my teammates. When you have people yelling and screaming, congratulating you, coming up saying, ‘Well deserved’, it makes you feel good." 

Lake's breakout season came in 2024 while primarily playing in the slot, registering 111 tackles, five passes defended and two sacks in 17 games.

The safety shared his sense on how long the he had been in communication with the team regarding a contract extension.

"It's been in the works a long time, Lake said. "I'm glad everything worked out."

Rams head coach Sean McVay congratulated the former sixth round pick and detailed how he impacts the team on and off the field.

“I’m really happy for him, he’s well deserving," McVay said. "I think he's had great production and great versatility but more importantly, there's a reason why he's basically been unanimously voted as a captain the last couple years. He's got an incredible way about himself."

The safety has been a vital player in defensive coordinator Chris Shula's scheme and should provide a boost to the Rams defensive unit who has struggled in recent weeks, surrendering 27 points or more in four of its last five games. 

Shula reacted to the news of Lake's extension and discussed his impact on the Rams organization.

"I'm so excited," Shula said. "You talk about a guy that does everything right. He's meant so much to me personally in my first couple years being the defensive coordinator."

Linebacker Jared Verse offered his perspective of the news that broke Thursday and detailed what it means to see dedicated players rewarded.

"We all found out in the locker room. Everybody got up and started high fiving him, loving on him and giving him dap ups," Verse said. "The amount of work that he puts in, what he means to our defense and to see him get that payday that everyone wants and everyone talks about, it means a lot.”

Locking down their top defensive back ahead of free agency delivers a much-needed morale boost in the Los Angeles locker room after back-to-back losses to Seattle and Atlanta closed the book on the Rams’ NFC West hopes. Lake’s versatility in the secondary will be key in the Rams’ pursuit of Super Bowl LV in Santa Clara.