Todd Gurley has been released by the Los Angeles Rams in a stunning fall from grace for a running back who was once among the class of the NFL.
The Los Angeles Rams moved on from former first-round running back Todd Gurley on Thursday, announcing the release of the two-time first-team All-Pro.
Gurley burst onto the scene having been drafted by the Rams with the 10th-overall pick in 2015. He won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award and two years later was named Offensive Player of the Year.
However, his career with the Rams took a turn for the worse amid mystery over a knee injury that saw his role in their run in the 2018 postseason, which ended in defeat to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII, significantly diminished.
Gurley was a shadow of his 2017 self last season and, with the Rams unable to find a trade partner, they decided to part with a player they would have owed $17.25 million in 2020, according to Spotrac.
In Todd Gurley’s five seasons with the Rams, he was second in the NFL in rushing yards (5,405), first in rushing TD (58), second in the NFL in yards from scrimmage (7,494) and scored an NFL-best 70 total TD. An incredible run in LA.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 19, 2020
DON’T PAY RBs!!
Every RB that made > $4M per yr (pre-2019) is GONE from the team that gave them the deal or a pay cut.
• Todd Gurley -> cut
• Devonta Freeman -> cut
• Dion Lewis -> cut
• David Johnson -> traded
• Jerick McKinnon -> pay cut
• Lamar Miller -> not re-signed— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) March 19, 2020
My understanding is among two of Todd Gurley’s desirable destinations recently has been Atlanta and Miami, per source; though the #Dolphins just brought in Jordan Howard. However, we’ll see now, how other potential options open up for Gurley, or how the market reacts.
— ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 19, 2020
Imagine if the Texans had just held onto DeAndre Hopkins and signed Todd Gurley instead of trading for David Johnson’s awful contract!
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) March 19, 2020
Including the $7.55M bonus he’ll reel in today, Todd Gurley earned $46M across 5 seasons w/ the #Rams. He received $34.5M of his $57.5M extension signed in July of 2018. https://t.co/GY2QGYTmVH
— Spotrac (@spotrac) March 19, 2020
Another thing to consider as Todd Gurley becomes a free agent: You have to imagine any team wanting to sign him will want their own doctors to be able to conduct a physical given his knee issues.
— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) March 19, 2020
Waiting for the Texans to sign Joe Flacco, then trading away Deshaun Watson for Todd Gurley.
— Adam Rank (@adamrank) March 19, 2020
Idk who you are, idk how old you are, idk what kind of shape you are in.
However there is a good shot you have a better ability to cut than Todd Gurley
— Eliot Crist (@EliotCrist) March 19, 2020
The #49ers have traded DeForest Buckner, the #Cardinals traded for DeAndre Hopkins and the Rams have released Todd Gurley.
Wild times in the NFC West.
— Joe Fann (@Joe_Fann) March 19, 2020
Bill O’Brien about to trade David Johnson and two firsts for the cap space to sign Todd Gurley.
— Raymond Summerlin (@RMSummerlin) March 19, 2020
The overwhelming consensus is that Gurley is another example of the danger of giving lucrative contracts to running backs. The Rams will pay the price for handing one to Gurley with the dead money they now have to carry.
Given his injury issues, Gurley may find a depressed market for his services. Still only 25, he has plenty of time to revitalize his career. The question is whether he will discover the right situation in which to do so.
While Gurley’s release does not reflect well on the Rams, they were at least prepared for it. Los Angeles drafted Darell Henderson last year and, unless they address the position by adding a rookie this year, will look for Henderson and Malcolm Brown to fill the void left by Gurley.