During last month’s draft, it was learned Matthew Stafford is seeking a new Rams deal. Two years remain on his existing contract beyond 2024, but his salaries for that span are not guaranteed. 
Stafford enjoyed a healthy campaign last year, rebounding from the 2022 season in which he was limited to nine games. He helped the Rams make a somewhat surprising run to the postseason, helping his leverage in contract talks. Head coach Sean McVay recently confirmed the team has been in discussion on a new deal, and that process is still unfolding.
Jourdan Rodrigue of the Athletic reports team and player are still talking in Stafford’s case (subscription required). That comes as little surprise considering McVay’s other remarks with respect to the 36-year-old’s future. Stafford has faced retirement questions in the past, but the team appears poised to keep him atop the depth chart for the foreseeable future. Working out an agreement featuring additional up front money would of course go a long way to ensuring that.
Stafford is currently set to receive salaries of $27MM and $26MM in 2025 and ’26. His cap hits for those seasons are $50.5MM and $49.5MM, though; the latter figure matches his cap charge for 2024. A new deal could lower his burden on Los Angeles’ cap sheet, although term will be a reasonable concern on the team’s part given Stafford’s age. The team has Jimmy Garoppolo as a veteran backup for this year, with 2023 fourth-rounder Stetson Bennett back in place as a developmental passer.
Much of the Rams’ success on offense this season will depend on Stafford’s level of play. Unlike a number of players angling for new deals, he has participated in Los Angeles’ OTAs, and his status will remain worth watching. As Rodrigue notes, the team generally works out contract matters such as this before training camp begins in July. It will be interesting to see if Stafford has a new agreement in place by that point.
This is one contract that it would make sense to allow to run out. 2025 and 2026 and then see how the old body is holding up. There’s a good chance that the existing years will be paid in injury guarantees. No need to make a bad situation worse.
Yeah, I’ve always been a fan of Matty but the writing is on the wall. He’s got a ring so it’s time to move on from football. Old and immobile is not a winning recipe in todays NFL.
If he needs more money, he can just have his wife make him do more commercials under the condition that she is also in them.
Ram fan n Stafford took em to the promise land but he has got a ton of miles on that body n Rams really need to come up w/a new plan @QB. Hopefully by nxt season. Once players hit that wall they can be shadow of themselves. He’s already a statue back there n Father Time never loses. Here’s to 1 more good run, Go Rams !
I see no reason to extend someone that will be 38 at the start of the extension.
Curious if the Cowboys and Rams thought about calling each other in a swap for QBs. Stafford goes home and I’m sure he’d sign immediately and Dak has a different setting and reset with a coach that may help him excel.