The Rams announced Saturday they have reached an extension agreement with Matthew Stafford. The sides agreed on a four-year deal, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
Despite Aaron Rodgers and Deshaun Watson reshaping the quarterback market this month, Stafford’s new deal — four years, $160MM, per Schefter — does not push Rodgers’ for AAV or Watson’s for guarantee value. Stafford indeed becomes the latest $40MM-per-year quarterback, and although the 13-year veteran’s latest extension does not enter the Rodgers-Watson realm for AAV, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports the Los Angeles QB will collect $135MM guaranteed on this deal (Twitter link).
A closer look reveals this deal moving to $43MM per year, with Rapoport adding the pact includes additional years to help the Rams with their salary cap (Twitter link). This makes the extension, effectively, a three-year, $129MM pact. At $43MM annually, Stafford will tie Josh Allen. But Allen got to that price point by giving the Bills six true years on his extension. Stafford reaching $43MM AAV on a three-year re-up is certainly a good deal for a player who still has just one Pro Bowl on his resume. Of course, Stafford’s 2021 postseason overshadows his previous low-accolades Detroit run.
Stafford elevated the Rams to their second Super Bowl title, guiding a game-winning drive to down the Bengals. The longtime Lions starter did not miss a game in his first Rams season and played well in the playoffs. In 21 games last season, Stafford cleared 6,000 yards and threw 50 touchdown passes. The former No. 1 overall pick went from having never won a playoff game to leading his new team to four victories in one postseason, reshaping his career trajectory and putting him on course for this big-ticket extension.
When the Lions extended Stafford in 2017, his $27MM-per-year deal represented the QB high-water mark by $2MM annually. Quarterbacks’ earning potential has changed considerably in the years since; Rodgers is now attached to deal worth more than $50MM per year, while the Browns gave Watson an astonishing $230MM fully guaranteed. Stafford becomes the NFL’s sixth $40MM-per-year player. Considering where Rodgers and Watson took the market, Stafford certainly could have commanded more. This deal stands to help the Rams build around him, to some degree.
It will be interesting to see how Stafford’s cap numbers look, as the Rams have an Aaron Donald contract matter to address. The sides have engaged in discussions, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds (on Twitter) they have made progress. Donald is expected to receive a raise on his $22.5MM-per-year deal, one that has since been surpassed by several defenders.
BuT hOw CaN tHeY aFfOrD $40 mIlLiOn UnDeR tHe CaP?
staffgoat
Dude got his ring and got paid. Deserves it after all those years in Detroit. He’ll never be a MVP caliber QB but give him a good defense and some weapons and he’ll win you games. That’s all that matters anyway.
I don’t think he wins another one but it’ll be fun watching him vs Brady vs Rodgers for the next few years.
Your takes are usually bad but this one takes the cake. Played on horrible teams and guided Detroit from bottoming out in a strong divison for 12 years with little To no help. As soon as he leaves they go to 3-13 for yet another top pick. He wins a super bowl with a team that went 10-6 the year before beating the goat in convincing fashion. Stafford will win an mvp in the next 4 years and add at least 1 more ring.
How odd, my thoughts are same on your takes, so aren’t we both content.
Hold up, stopped them from bottoming out!? 0-16 ring a bell?
Idiot. They went 0-16 then drafted Stafford number 1 overall.
Imagine watching the 2021 Rams and not thinking Stafford is MVP worthy. He was more impactful than Brady.
Dude wasn’t even in the discussion. Wasn’t even the best MVP candidate ON HIS OWN TEAM!
Or do we just ignore he led the league in interceptions?
No….he’s not worthy. He wasn’t even in the discussion for MVP last year
Yet without him they never win that Super Bowl.
That wasn’t the argument….but ok
@rondon: “Yet without him they never win that Super Bowl.”
You mean without their starting QB, the Rams never win that Super Bowl? No kidding.
Stafford is a gunslinger so the INTs come with it. He does a great job of recovering. I love how people are obsessed with a small stretch of games for the eventual Champs. Stafford was the best QB in the entire postseason
He’s still a turnover machine. He is good enough with elite pass catchers an a star studded defense don’t act like he’s a rope 5 QB. It’s not outrageous to leave him outside the top 10z
It’s absolutely outrageous to not have him a top 6 QB.
He’s really not a turnover machine. He was early on in his career, but over his last 5 years in Detroit he averaged an INT on about 1.8% of his passes, which isn’t bad at all.
Last year with the Rams that jumped up to 2.8%. But given his history that likely has to do with learning a new offense. That number will almost certainly go way down.
Stafford was not even a finalist for MVP, so clearly the MVP voters agreed that he was not MVP worthy. I also agree. He wasn’t. I love him and I’m so glad he got a ring after laying it all out for Detroit all those years, but he’s just a step down from MVP-level. Will be a Hall of Famer some day, though.
Fastest quarterback to 50,000 yards.
Aaron Rodgers wins MVP’s but hasn’t won more than one SB and wasn’t MVP the year won the SB. Winning SB is all that matters not MVP awards!
He should thank Jaquiski Taart for that contract.
Why does it matter if Donald becomes the highest paid. If he cares about winning take less to build a supporting team around him