Rams appear set to prioritize the 2026 season over early extensions for key 2023 draftees

The Los Angeles Rams are facing a familiar offseason question, do they lock in long-term deals for homegrown core pieces before training camp, or do they focus their attention on the upcoming season first? According to Pro Football Rumors, the team appears to be “disinclined” to pursue immediate extensions for several players drafted in 2023 who became extension-eligible for the first time this offseason. The most prominent name on that list is wide receiver Puka Nacua, joined by defensive end Kobie Turner, linebacker Byron Young, and two starting-caliber linemen in Steve Avila and Warren McClendon.

The timing matters because extension eligibility can create a short window to reshape a roster before a player reaches a fully defined contract year. Pro Football Rumors notes that none of the aforementioned players were first-round picks, which has a practical impact on control timelines. Since they were not selected in the first round, the team does not have the same fifth-year-option path that is available for many first-round draft choices. As a result, the players cited are described as entering contract years, with the summer serving as a potential planning point for long-term stability.

Pro Football Rumors also characterizes the public record of extension movement as limited. It reports there have been no public reports about possible extension discussions for Turner or Young, while Avila’s stance is described as a preference to remain in Los Angeles. That same report adds that head coach Sean McVay has spoken publicly about the team having “strong interest” in continuing with Avila, though it remains unclear what negotiations, if any, have taken place behind the scenes.

For McClendon, the reported trail is more tentative. Pro Football Rumors references a February report that the Rams were “eyeing” an extension for him, but it says nothing concrete has emerged publicly since then. In a typical offseason pattern, teams that intend to keep core role players beyond the immediate season generally at least report that intent through direct talks or updated contract frameworks. Here, the implication from the reporting is that the Rams are prepared to move forward without making early extensions the central storyline.

Nacua is the headline case, and the report suggests the Rams have viewed a re-up as more of a priority than the rest of the group. Pro Football Rumors notes that a December report framed a Nacua extension as an offseason focus, and it points to the idea that several “wrinkles” could complicate the process. Those complications are discussed in the reporting, but at this stage, the key takeaway for Rams fans is simpler: contract talks have not turned into a public agreement, even for the player who has been the most explosive start-to-future report on the roster.

The Rams’ posture, as described by Pro Football Rumors, fits a broader strategic split teams often face in July. Some organizations spend early portions of the offseason locking in long-term terms, reducing uncertainty about snaps and continuity. Others, particularly when they believe their competitive window is tied to immediate execution, keep the roster-building focus on preparation and avoid negotiations that can pull attention toward future seasons. If that approach holds, the Rams’ training-camp atmosphere may hinge more on performance than on deal momentum.

Going forward, the most important thing to watch is whether any of these extension-eligible players and the Rams move from background discussions to public agreement. With Turner and Young, the report emphasizes the lack of reported extension talk. With Avila and McClendon, it points to desire or interest, but not confirmation. And with Nacua, it highlights both the team’s interest and the fact that a contract resolution has not surfaced publicly yet. Either way, the summer could define how much leverage the Rams want to keep for regular-season priorities versus how quickly they are willing to remove contractual uncertainty from their core.