The Los Angeles Rams signed wide receiver Tavon Austin to a contract extension on Saturday, according to Aaron Wilson of National Football Post.
News of the signing comes just a few hours before the Rams are to take the field against the Denver Broncos in their third preseason game. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the four-year extension is worth $42 million, including $30 million in guaranteed money. If you include the incentives to the deal, Austin’s contract is worth roughly $52 million. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network has confirmed the report. The $30 million guaranteed is the fifth most for any wide receiver in the NFL, per Spotrac.
Los Angeles Rams Sign Tavon Austin to a Four-Year, $42 Million Extension
Austin, 25, was drafted by the Rams out of West Virginia with the eighth overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. While at West Virginia, Austin was a two-time All-American. Which is why the former All-American led the Rams as their top receiver last season despite their offense being ranked last in the NFL in total offense and passing yards in 2015.
In 2015, Tavon Austin caught a career-high 52 passes for 473 yards receiving and five touchdowns. Austin also ran the ball for 434 yards rushing with four touchdowns on 53 carries, while returning a punt for touchdown as well. Giving him ten touchdowns on the season.
Seen as a Future Superstar
After the Rams selected Austin with the eighth overall pick, the former West Virginian had trouble living up to the hype as the Rams future “superstar.” Head coach Jeff Fisher, who always believed in Tavon Austin, worked on finding creative ways to get Austin the ball in 2015.
In Austin’s rookie season, he totaled 569 yards from the line of scrimmage, and then saw those numbers slip in his second season to just 466 yards from the line of scrimmage. So Fisher was determined to see a rise in his stats, and Austin would go on to have his best season as a pro. Hauling in 52 catches for 473 yards receiving, and five touchdowns, while carrying the ball 52 times for 434 yards rushing and four touchdowns. That’s 907 yards from the line of scrimmage with nine scores in 2015.
“I appreciate it, just for what I’ve been through,” Austin said of his expanding role, per ESPN.com‘s Steve Dilbick. “It’s only going to get better for me. I’m about the wins, and any time I get to touch the ball, hopefully I can make something good happen with it.”
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