Rams ink five-year, $44M extension with LB James Laurinaitis

The Rams announced a five-year extension for linebacker James Laurinaitis that will keep him with the team through 2017.

Laurinaitis inks a five-year extension with the Rams. (@STLouisRams)

The Rams announced a five-year extension for linebacker James Laurinaitis on Saturday that will keep him with the team through 2017.

CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora reports the deal is worth $44 million overall, with $23.6 million guaranteed.

Laurinaitis, whom the Rams drafted with their second-round pick in the 2009 draft out of Ohio State, developed into one of the better middle linebackers in the league, even though working in the Rams' 2011 defense would probably give you pause on that notion.

St. Louis took him with the 35th-overall pick, and he has ended up as a much (much) better pick than tackle Jason Smith, whom they took second overall and who was recently traded to the Jets.