The Los Angeles Rams announced Thursday that they have agreed to a contract extension with breakout defensive back Quentin Lake. Although Lake hasn’t played in a game since being injured against the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 16, his absence makes his value to the Rams even more apparent as Los Angeles’ defense has collapsed without him in recent weeks.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the Rams offered Lake a three-year, $42 million contract extension, with $25 million guaranteed. As a safety, this would make Lake the 12th-highest average annual salary salary for a safety in the league. As a nickel, he would be ranked much higher. The $25 million guarantee is a top-10 safety figure. Lake will become an unrestricted free agent in March.
Lake, a 2022 sixth-round pick out of UCLA, has lived up to the standards some had set for him as the son of five-time Pro Bowl defensive back Carnell Lake.
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After spending his rookie season as a backup, Lake was thrust into the starting lineup late in the 2023 season before becoming a full-time starter in 2024. That year, Lake racked up 111 tackles, two sacks and proved versatile as a safety and nickel or “star” back.
Lake started all 10 games this season while healthy and threw his first career interception.
The Rams opened Lake’s 21-day practice window on Thursday. Sean McVay is hoping he can return to defense in the wild-card round, which means Lake likely won’t return for Week 18 against the Arizona Cardinals, which seems like a smart idea since they’ll need him healthy when the playoffs begin in less than two weeks.
