We interrupt this constant stream of NFL Draft talk to bring you news of a different sort, something about a player who is already on the St. Louis Rams roster and now isn't going anywhere for a little while. The Rams will reportedly be picking up Robert Quinn's fifth-year option, for 2015, according to Jim Thomas at the Post-Dispatch.
Rams have yet to exercise fifth-year option for DE Robert Quinn, but will do so by May 3 deadline.
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) April 18, 2014
It's kind of a no-brainer. Quinn's only 23-years old, and fresh off a breakout season with 19 sacks and seven forced fumbles. Picking up his option gives them two more years of Quinn at team-friendly prices.
Fifth-year options for first-round picks was a key part of the 2011 collective bargaining agreement, which sacrificed rookie pay for the benefit of quarterbacks and team owners lowered the cost of rookie contracts from the previous scale. Clubs have the option of picking up a fifth-year on a first-round pick's four-year deal at a predetermined salary. For players picked after the top 10 selections, like Quinn, their salary is based on the average of the third through 25th highest paid players at their position. For Quinn, a defensive end, it's roughly $6.9 million, meaning the Rams have two more seasons of Quinn at less than $9 million total, not bad for the league's best 4-3 edge rusher.
After 2015, or before depending on the team's salary cap situation at that point, Quinn will be in line for a massive free agent deal. Chris Long signed a five-year, $60.31 million deal, with $36.76 guaranteed, in 2012. That looks like a floor for negotiating Quinn's next contract.
Two more years of Quinn is enough to make you want to dance!