Rams creates about USD 7 million of 2018 cap space

The moves raise the Rams' cap space to around $10.1 million, per Spotrac, creating additional room to fit what is expected to be a record-breaking extension for defensive tackle Aaron Donald.

The Los Angeles Rams created about $7 million of 2018 cap space on Thursday by restructuring the contracts of left tackle Andrew Whitworth and wide receiver Robert Woods, according to an ESPN report.

The moves raise the Rams' cap space to around $10.1 million, per Spotrac, creating additional room to fit what is expected to be a record-breaking extension for defensive tackle Aaron Donald.

Whitworth, 36, was scheduled to make $8 million in base salary this season, the second year of a three-year, $33.75 million deal. Per Spotrac, he had nearly $7 million of that converted into a signing bonus and prorated over the next two seasons.

The 13th year veteran has missed just nine games in his career and is coming off three consecutive Pro Bowl nods.

Woods, 26, had $4.7 million of his $5.5 million base salaries for this season converted into a signing bonus, per Spotrac, stretching the cap hit over the next four years. Woods joined the Rams last offseason on a five-year, $34 million deal and set a career high with 781 receiving yards despite playing just 12 games.

Head coach Sean McVay said Wednesday that a deal with Donald was "very close," and general manager Les Snead affirmed McVay's comments, although no deal has yet been completed.

Pro Football Talk reported on Sunday that the Rams and Donald have been on the verge of a deal to make Donald the highest-paid defensive player in history at an annual average around $22 million, with about $80 million guaranteed. Von Miller currently leads all NFL defenders at $19 million annually.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)