Like every other team, the Los Angeles Rams have often used restructuring contracts as a way to create cap space. It’s not the same as asking a player to take a pay cut, but rather a method of freeing up money in the current year by increasing that player’s cap hit in future seasons.
The Rams restructured Aaron Donald’s contract last year before he retired to create $9.2 million in cap room, and they also restructured Cooper Kupp’s contract in 2023 to free up around $10 million that year. Restructuring essentially gives the player more money up front and makes it harder for the team to move on from him in the future.
Los Angeles isn’t strapped for cash this offseason but it could benefit from some additional cap space, especially with Matthew Stafford needing a raise if he’s going to stay with the team. Unfortunately, the Rams don’t have many options available when it comes to players who could have their contracts restructured,
based on Over The Cap’s numbers.
There are eight players who would create at least $1 million in cap space if their contracts were restructured, which is a good number. However, it’s the statuses of those players that make it extremely difficult and unlikely to restructure their contracts.
| Player | Potential savings |
| Matthew Stafford | $12.9M |
| Cooper Kupp | $9.4M |
| Jonah Jackson | $8.2M |
| Kevin Dotson | $7.7M |
| Rob Havenstein | $3.5M |
| Darious Williams | $3.4M |
| Colby Parkinson | $3.3M |
| Tyler Higbee | $2.6M |
Let’s start with Stafford. The Rams aren’t going to restructure his contract, knowing they’re going to either sign him to an extension or trade him. Kupp is expected to be traded or released, so his deal isn’t going to be restructured, either.
Jackson is a potential cap casualty and restructuring his deal will make it more difficult for the Rams to move on from him, so that’s not an option. The same applies for Williams and Parkinson, who are also candidates to be cut this offseason.
Havenstein and Higbee are both in the final year of their contracts, though they do have void years left on their deals; two for Havenstein and one for Higbee. Technically, the Rams could restructure their deals and simply increase the dead money for each player in 2026, but that seems unlikely.
That leaves Dotson as the only legitimate candidate to have his contract restructured. He’s certain to be back this year and will probably remain with the team through the end of his contract in 2026. Restructuring his deal would free up $7.7 million this year, while simultaneously increasing his cap hit in 2026.
If the Rams are confident Dotson will keep playing at a high level through 2026, it makes sense to restructure his contract and save money this year – if they feel they need more cap space right now. If Les Snead is confident the Rams don’t need more room in 2025, there’s no sense in restructuring Dotson or anyone else.
