Curl just completed his second season with the Rams after arriving from the Washington Commanders. A fourth-round pick in Washington’s 2020 class, he has become a core contributor, posting strong tackle numbers and playing more than 1,000 defensive snaps during the 2023-24 stretch, including a memorable postseason interception in the divisional round.
LA has already shown a pattern of using cost-efficient signings to fill roster needs, extending players such as linebacker Nate Landman, running back Kyren Williams, and safety Quentin Lake in recent months. Curl’s situation tests whether the Rams will continue that approach or commit significant cap space to the safety position again after Lake’s recent extension.
Projections around Curl’s next deal vary. Spotrac estimates as much as $40.2 million over four years, reflecting his position as one of the more attractive safeties on the market. By comparison, Over The Cap estimates the Rams’ cap room at roughly $34.4 million, which could limit the team’s willingness to absorb two high-dollar secondary contracts in the same offseason.
External teams are expected to monitor Curl, with the Minnesota Vikings viewed by some as a potential fit if Harrison Smith retires or scales back. Other possible suitors include the Chicago Bears and New York Jets, creating a competitive market that could drive Curl’s price higher and affect the Rams’ evaluation of remaining needs and extensions.
Ultimately, the Rams’ approach this offseason may center on balancing flexibility with feasibility. If Curl remains in Los Angeles, it would likely require a notable investment for a player who has become a defensive cornerstone. If he tests the market, the Rams would need to consider the impact of a potential bidding war on the cap and whether similar bargain-signing strategies—like those used on Lake, Landman, and Williams—can continue to coexist with a larger free-agent outlay.
