3 Contract Extensions the Rams Need to Prioritize Right Now

The Los Angeles Rams endured a glaring Super Bowl hangover in 2019 as they stumbled to a 9-7 finish, which was good for third in the loaded NFC West. Being average this upcoming campaign really just isn't an option for a team that flaunts as much star power as they do.

General manager Les Snead is already on the hot seat -- or, at least he should be -- and a good start to winning back the hearts of the fan base would be to extend players that actually deserve top dollar. Here are the first three that come to mind.

3. Troy Hill

Don't let the Rams' struggles on defense last year distract you from the fact that Troy Hill was excellent in coverage. For the season, Pro Football Focus gave him an elite 76.4 grade. In nine starts, the Oregon product posted 43 tackles, eight passes defensed, and two interceptions. Those numbers don't necessarily jump off the screen, but that's largely because Hill was in lockdown form. The 28-year-old's contract will expire after the 2020 season, so Los Angeles should really press the issue to extend him. He deserves starter's money and should line up opposite stud Jalen Ramsey next season.

2. Cooper Kupp

There's really not much to debate here. At 27 years old, Cooper Kupp has established him as one of the most dynamic slot receivers in the NFL. What's equally important is how smoothly the Eastern Washington product bounced back from a torn ACL he suffered halfway through the 2018 campaign. Last season, Kupp squashed all concerns about his knee by posting 94 receptions for 1,161 yards and 10 touchdowns, all of which led the Rams. Not only is the former third-round pick Jared Goff's security blanket, but he's also his favorite target. We'd be stunned if Los Angeles hasn't already entered discussions on an extension with the star pass catcher.

1. Jalen Ramsey

Inking arguably the best cornerback in the NFL who's just entering his prime to a long-term contract? In most cases, it couldn't get any more simple than that. However, the Rams unloaded two first-round draft picks, as well as a fourth-rounder, to land Jalen Ramsey in a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars in October. That makes extending him even more of a necessity. The former No. 5 overall pick has been named to the Pro Bowl for three years running and really helped to bolster LA's secondary in the second half of the 2019 season. Ramsey is simply in a class of his own and deserves the dough.