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The St. Louis Rams have one less thing to worry about in free agency next year. Rams exec Kevin Demoff announced Sunday afternoon at training camp that the team has locked up defensive end Chris Long, 27, with a four-year contract extension. Jay Glazer of Fox Sports had the news first. A deal with James Laurinaitis is said to be close.
Financial details of the deal were unknown at the time. Pass rushers come at a premium, so you can imagine the contract was fitting of a player who compiled 13 sacks and more than 80 total pressures last season. That was the best mark in the league according to Pro Football Focus.
Long, the second overall pick of the 2008 NFL Draft, was entering the last year of his original rookie deal. This will keep him in a Rams uniform through 2016, when turns 32.
Middle linebacker James Laurinaitis could be getting a contract extension soon as well. Laurinaitis is entering the last year of his rookie contract, and the Rams would like to have both players locked up before free agency in 2013. Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch reported that the team was close with the linebacker.
The Rams open training camp on Sunday. Follow all the action via @TurfShowTimes on Twitter as well as our list of folks tweeting from the scene.