Los Angeles Rams sign LB Grant Stuard

Grant Stuard's two-year, $5.05M signing with the Rams earns a D+ Contract Value Index (CVI), reflecting a depth linebacker addition that offers marginal roster utility at a reasonable short-term cost. At $2.525M annually, this is a classic low-commitment depth move — the kind of contract designed to fill a roster hole without constraining future flexibility, which aligns with the Rams' positioning as a current playoff team in need of rotation depth rather than a cornerstone piece. Stuard projects as a solid backup-to-reserve linebacker; the modest AAV and two-year window suggest Los Angeles is treating this as a short-term insurance policy rather than a long-term investment in a franchise-caliber starter. The CVI penalty reflects the limited upside embedded in the deal — there's no meaningful runway for salary growth, no upside optionality, and no indication this is a value play on an underrated talent. For a team already at 12-5 in the division, this is the kind of quiet, low-risk transaction that supports depth without moving the needle on competitive window or cap strategy; it's functional roster management, not a statement about front-office ambition or confidence in a particular core.