Rams receiver Tavon Austin gets extension

The team agreed to an extension with WR Tavon Austin worth $42 million.

As we all know, in Los Angeles you want all the star power on your team that you can get, and the Rams have a bright young star in wide receiver Tavon Austin. CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora reported that the deal has $25.55 million in guarantees that are payable by March 2017.

With this new deal he will be expected to improve significantly this season. The guaranteed money on the contract is $30 million, and with incentives, he could see $52 million by the end of the deal.

This is quite the investment for a player who hasn’t surpassed 500 yards receiving in any of his three National Football League seasons.

The Rams are expecting their stacked defense to dominate opponents on the field this season, but will need Austin and wide receiver Kenny Britt to step up as veteran leaders on their offense. Overall, Austin finished with 907 total yards and nine total touchdowns in 2015.

The release points out that Austin and running back Todd Gurley each had 10 touchdowns a year ago, the first time two members of the Rams have landed in double digits since running back Steven Jackson and receiver Torry Holt in 2006.

Austin is also a punt return threat.

He had a punt return for a touchdown too. “It is important to our organization to retain players we’ve drafted and invested in, and Tavon is an example of that”.

With Jared Goff set to eventually take the reins, Austin could continue to serve as an electric weapon for the Rams’ offense, if used in the right way.