With a glaring hole at outside linebacker and no one stepping up to fill it, the Los Angeles Rams set out to address the position at last year’s trade deadline. In doing so, they acquired Dante Fowler Jr. from the Jaguars for a third- and fifth-round pick.

It was a hefty price to pay for a guy who was only under contract through the rest of the season, but the Rams were confident they’d be able to sign him to an extension – and that’s exactly what they did.

Fowler signed a one-year deal worth up to $14 million this offseason, staying in L.A. for one more season. On Tuesday, he explained why he opted to remain with the Rams rather than hitting the free-agent market.

“I knew from the first few weeks – really that first month I was here – that this was a perfect fit for me, the perfect team for me,” Fowler said at his press conference. “With Coach Wade Phillips and his scheme, I was watching his scheme growing up as a kid and when I got drafted. I was a hybrid linebacker-pass rusher and I wasn’t used like that in Jacksonville for my first four years. I always knew what I had, I knew what were my best abilities and when I got here, it just felt like everything I was asking for. It was like my wishes were being granted.”

Fowler is only under contract through the 2019 season, but because the Rams signed him to a one-year deal instead of using the franchise tag, they’re free to negotiate throughout the season. That’s a significant difference, especially if Fowler has a hot start to the season and entices the Rams to sign him before next offseason.

He wants to stay in Los Angeles long-term and is set on proving his worth in 2019.

“This is a great place with beautiful people, beautiful workers and a great coaching staff that I was begging for and I couldn’t ask much more from,” he said. “I’m just going to go out there and bust my tail and try to be the best player I can be on and off the field so I can try to figure out a way to stay in L.A.”

The Rams clearly think highly of Fowler, enough to sign him to a $14 million deal for one season. But as much as a vote of confidence as that was, Fowler still has work to do when it comes to earning the Rams’ trust that he can consistently be a contributor off the edge.

He knows 2019 is a prove-it year for him and he’s going to do what he can to prove the Rams right. And if the time comes where the team extends him a long-term contract offer, he’s going to sign on the dotted line.

“If I’m willing and fortunate enough to be able to get a contract and sign an extension this year, you’re damn right I will be signing that paper,” he said with a smile ear to ear.