Rams sign standout safety Quentin Lake to a 3-year contract extension

Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times on Jan 1, 2026

Published in Football

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LOS ANGELES — As safety Quentin Lake played through much of the final year of his rookie contract, he said he did not worry about whether he would come to terms with the Rams about an extension.

If he took care of business on the field, everything would work out.

On Thursday, that manifestation came to fruition.

Lake signed a three-year extension that will keep another pillar of the Rams' defense in place.

Terms of the deal were not announced but it includes $25.7 million in guarantees, said a person with knowledge of the situation who requested anonymity because the terms were not announced.

"I think the coolest thing about it was seeing the reaction from my teammates," Lake said. "And when you have people yelling and screaming, coming up and saying, 'well-deserved' it makes you feel good.

"I'm just very, very thankful to be a part of such a great organization."

Lake, a 2022 sixth-round draft pick from UCLA, has been a captain for the last two seasons, and he is a key player for a team that is 11-5 entering Sunday's season finale against the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium.

Lake has played in 10 games this season and has one interception. He has been sidelined for six games because of an elbow injury suffered during a Nov. 16 game against the Seattle Seahawks, but the Rams on Thursday opened his window to return to the roster from injured reserve.

The plan is for Lake to reacclimate to practice this week, and be ready to play in the playoffs.

"I'm ahead of schedule," he said, adding, "I feel strong and confident."

Lake, 26, is a "a guy who does everything right," defensive coordinator Chris Shula said.

"Any time you get guys that do it right, that are great players, get rewarded, it's great to see," Shula said.

Lake is the second defensive player to receive an extension this season, joining linebacker Nate Landman, who in November signed a three-year deal that includes more than $15 million in guarantees.

The decision to extend Lake is something of a departure for an organization that typically has not signed drafted safeties to extensions.

But Lake said discussions about an extension began after last season, when he played every defensive snap until coaches decided to rest starters in the final for the playoffs. He said there was open communication throughout the process.

"I just wanted to be a representation of a man, a player, a teammate, a future husband, all that stuff," he said. "Just being a good person, and I think they saw that, they honored it, they respected it and that's one of the reasons why I'm here today."

The locker room was alive with celebration when players found out about Lake's extension, edge rusher Jared Verse said.

Lake's value goes beyond what he does on the field, Verse said.

"Outside of here, he'll text people if they're having a hard time, make sure you're having a good day," Verse said, adding, "He's the first to congratulate you, he's the first one to suffer with you.

"That's somebody I just genuinely don't just consider a teammate. That's somebody that's genuinely a friend."

Landman and Lake were among many players on defense the Rams will soon have to make decisions about possibly extending.

Lineman Kobie Turner and edge rusher Byron Young next season will be entering the last year of their rookie contracts. This is cornerback Cobie Durant's final season on his rookie deal.

Verse and Braden Fiske will be eligible for extensions after next season.

"It's good to be around guys that you've worked with, that you've built with, that you sweat blood, sweat and tears out on the field with, because it's familiar," Lake said. "And the more and more and more that we can build this brotherhood connection and communication, I think it will really elevate all our games."