Stafford has performed 16 seasons — 4 with the Rams — and can flip 37 in just a few weeks.
The Tremendous Bowl-champion quarterback continues to maneuver up the NFL’s all-time passing lists, has displayed no discernible drop-off in his elite expertise and has by no means hinted publicly that he was able to retire.
However Stafford and his representatives have watched the quarterback market escalate since 2022, when he signed an extension that runs by way of 2026.
Throughout final yr’s draft, Stafford’s demand for a contract adjustment got here to gentle in what seemed to be a strategic leak. Stafford participated in offseason exercises however he was by no means made accessible to reporters. On the eve of coaching camp, with the obvious risk that Stafford may not report, the Rams bent on some stage to his calls for. They fronted him $5 million that was scheduled to be paid in 2025.
Subsequent season, Stafford is because of earn $23 million in wage, although solely $4 million is assured, in keeping with Overthecap.com. He’s scheduled to hold a salary-cap variety of $49.7 million, in keeping with the web site.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford throws a move in the course of the first quarter of the playoff sport towards the Vikings.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Instances)
So what is going to the Rams do when Stafford’s brokers come calling once more?
Backup Jimmy Garoppolo is a free agent. As a lot as McVay has mentioned he admires Garoppolo and the veteran’s resume, Garoppolo doesn’t possess the next-level command of McVay’s offense, the arm expertise or the late-game savvy that Stafford has demonstrated all through his profession.
This yr’s draft doesn’t have marquee quarterback expertise a la 2016, when Snead took a large swing and traded up 14 spots to pick Jared Goff with the No. 1 total choose.
So it’s by no means out of the realm of risk for Snead to tug off a blockbuster commerce. See: Rams commerce Goff and two first-round picks to Detroit for Stafford. And you may make sure that Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell and different contending groups seeking a quarterback would love so as to add Stafford.If McVay wishes a new-era quarterback with dual-threat expertise, he may need to attend awhile.
For no less than yet one more season, Stafford provides the Rams the perfect probability to win.
