WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – The Rams' team meeting room erupted when safety Quentin Lake's extension was announced on Thursday. He was mobbed with congratulatory hugs and cheers as the entire team celebrated his freshly inked three-year deal.
Signing an extension is something that Lake has dreamed of for a long time, but he said the coolest part of the experience was the reaction from the "brotherhood" in the Rams' locker room.
"When you have people yelling and screaming, congratulating you, coming up saying well-deserved, it makes you feel good," Lake said. "And I'm just very, very thankful."
All day, as Lake walked through the Rams' facility, he was showered with calls of "money man" or "that's my captain," among other shows of support from teammates. It was only right for Thursday to be Lake's first day back at practice since he injured his elbow in Week 11 and landed on Injured Reserve.
Lake is now locked in with the Rams through the 2028 season, and is grateful for it. This was a process that started last offseason, and while he never focused on negotiating the deal, he did manifest success for himself, which ultimately led to the payday.
"Whether it's saying it, whether it's writing it down, just understanding that there's a lot of power in putting it out into the universe," Lake said. "In terms of the contract and stuff like that, that was never it. I just wanted to be the best, the best at my position, the best player I could be, the best teammate I could be, and everything else would fall in line."
The Rams have not extended many safeties in recent years, but they made an exception for Lake, who is more than just a typical safety. He plays primarily in the slot, but also lines up deep in the Rams' base defense and is in a leadership position. When healthy, he's played 100% of the Rams' defensive snaps this season. Lake registered 61 total tackles, 10 passes defended, an interception and a sack in the first 10 games, and the Rams' defensive production took a dip in his absence.
Throughout his recovery process, Lake was constantly in the Rams' facility, attending meetings and doing everything possible to return to the field. He did so ahead of schedule, and is planning to play in the Wild Card round next week. He said the elbow "feels great" and he was able to throw punches at the ball and use his arm how he normally would at Thursday's practice.
"There's a Bible verse I always talk about, it's Romans 8:18," Lake said. "And it's, 'The pain today is nothing compared to the joy that's coming.' And understanding that this game can get taken away in an instant. I've been there before where I've been out of game. You kind of appreciate what you have."
Lake is certainly appreciative of his fresh bill of health, and to be locked in to a defense that seems to be investing in the future with he and inside linebacker Nate Landman both getting in-season extensions.
"I hope every guy gets paid, that's the biggest thing because it's not more so the financials, it's just understanding that, man, these people believe in you," Lake said. "They have faith in what you do."
