The Los Angeles Rams have several key decisions to make this upcoming offseason could have a significant impact on their future well beyond the 2018 campaign.

One of which concerns the fate of veteran wide receiver Tavon Austin, who has seen his role in Los Angeles continue to diminish leading to the possibility that the front office decides to part ways with him. There may be one minor hurdle that could complicate just that plan of action as the Rams are already on the books for $5 million, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

“Rams receiver Tavon Austin, widely regarded as being on the outs, has a contract that already guarantees him $5 million this year, in the form of a roster bonus that will be earned on March 16. If he’s still on the roster that day, his $3 million base salary becomes fully guaranteed, too.

“Per a source with knowledge of the situation, both components of Austin’s 2018 pay include offsets, meaning that if, for example, he’d get cut before the salary vests, his $5 million roster bonus would be reduced by what he earns elsewhere.”

The $5 million roster bonus for next season is set to be paid out on March 16, which will come just a couple of days after the league year for 2018 officially begins. This would account for a sizeable chunk of his $8 million salary for next season with the final $3 million coming in base pay.

There is still a potential out on the deal this offseason with the team on accounting for two years worth $20.9 million of his four-year, $42 million deal that has a dead cap hit of $5 million. This would allow them to get out from having to pay any part of the remaining contract.

This entire situation should have much more clarity over the next couple of weeks after Rams get a clear idea of what will happen with their pending free agents in cornerback Trumaine Johnson, wide receiver Sammy Watkins, and safety Lamarcus Joyner.