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Big-play wide receiver Kevin Curtis, who could be one of the most attractive players in the unrestricted pool next spring, has signed his one-year restricted free agent qualifying offer with the St. Louis Rams, a deal worth $1.573 million.

Kevin Curtis

Wide Receiver St. Louis Rams Profile

2005 SEASON STATISTICS Rec Yds TD Avg Long YAC 60 801 6 13.4 83 252

The Rams also re-signed two other restricted free agents, starting left cornerback DeJuan Groce and wide receiver Shaun McDonald, to one-year deals worth $721,600 each. The deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets with other teams passed last Friday and none of the three young veterans received solid offers from other clubs.

Defensive end Brandon Green also reached a one-year deal with the team.

There was some speculation that Curtis, who posted a career season in 2005, might garner interest from a team seeking to upgrade at wide receiver. But the qualifying tender St. Louis made to Curtis meant that any team successfully signing him to an offer would have owed the Rams a first-round pick as compensation, and that price tag likely scared off a few suitors.

Barring a contract extension, that won't be the case next spring, if Curtis hits the unrestricted market.

One of the fastest players in the league, Curtis, 27, posted 60 receptions for 801 yards and six touchdowns in 2005, while appearing in 16 games and starting nine. Normally the No. 3 wide receiver, Curtis saw his playing time increased because of injuries to starters Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt. In the past two seasons, he has 92 catches and 54 of them have produced first downs.

Curtis provides a pure speed dimension that opponents must respect and, in that regard, he influences the way defenses play.

Groce, 26, started 15 games in 2005 after principally playing as a nickel defender his first two seasons, and continued to emerge as a solid cornerback. He posted 57 tackles, two interceptions, nine passes defensed and one forced fumble. The former Nebraska star is an aggressive player, has quick feet and has gotten better every year in the league.

Like Curtis, the elusive McDonald had his most productive season in 2005, with 46 catches for 523 yards. McDonald is a different kind of receiver than Curtis, a wideout who is more quick than fast, and who is at his best when aligned in the slot and working the middle of the field. He has started only two games in his career, but is a very effective No. 3 receiver.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.