It has not taken long for Matthew Stafford‘s immediate future to become settled. The Rams are set to have their starting quarterback in place once again for 2025. 
Stafford has informed the team of his intention of playing next season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports (video link). His age-37 season will be his fifth in Los Angeles, and expectations will remain high given his level of play when healthy for the Rams. Stafford declined to confirm in the wake of the Rams’ divisional round loss whether or not he would continue his career, although his comments hinted that would be the case.
Shortly thereafter, head coach Sean McVay said the team was hoping to learn of the two-time Pro Bowler’s intentions sooner rather than later. That question has seemingly been put to rest, although Rapoport notes another round of contract adjustments may be in order this offseason. The sides worked out a restructure agreement just ahead of training camp last summer, and Stafford’s 2024 pay was increased as a result.
The terms of that arrangement currently has him on track for only a $4MM roster bonus in terms of locked in compensation (before the start of the regular season, that is) for 2025. Stafford is also set to carry a cap hit of nearly $50MM next season, and an extension or new re-working of his pact could help lower that figure. It will be interesting to see if negotiations can progress on a quicker timeline compared to last year.
While McVay is on the record with allowing Stafford to remain with the Rams as long he wishes to continue his career, the possibility of a trade was floated over the weekend. Moving on from the veteran after June 1 would generate $27MM in cap savings (along with almost $23MM in dead money) for Los Angeles, but it would of course create a major vacancy at the QB spot. No successor is currently in place with Jimmy Garoppolo set to hit free agency and 2023 fourth-rounder Stetson Bennett yet to play a regular season snap.
The Rams are comfortable with proceeding on a year-to-year basis with Stafford, so his future will remain a talking point as long as his career lasts. For now, though, he is on track to suit up for 2025 as the team aims to make another playoff run next season.
We should alert the media.
Oh, never mind.
If I’m the raiders I’m making phone calls NOW
I think Stafford would retire before going to a rebuild….but who knows.
He has caroll and hopefully new young skilled offensive weapons and they’d pay him a solid check
But Florio said a trade is on the table
If a team blew them away and the team could contend it could still happen.
The Rams were a playoff team that looks like it’s on the rise. They aren’t trading their SB winning QB to take a step backwards.
I agree…I don’t see it either.
Matthew Stafford, come on down, you’re the next contestant on the Black and Silver show.
Why would Matty leave a playoff team to go to the inept Raiders…a team that ranked 20th in sack percentage allowed?
It wouldn’t be by his choosing. I think McVay realizes at this point Stafford isn’t a difference maker and with a young team it makes sense to find the QB of the future.
They don’t have a QB of the future. He would most definitely be a difference maker. He’s head and shoulders better than anyone the Raiders have thrown out on the field in years and with a wisely put together O-line and an additional weapon or two, Carroll could make it work right away. They can draft a QB when they think there’s one worth developing.
McVay has publicly stated he wants him on the team. They are not going to start over with a team that is contending now. The trade discussion would help with cap hit but who would you bring in to be QB?
It actually would be his choosing. If he didnt want to be traded to the Raiders he would probably retire since he had already been contemplating it. i doubt Rams just trade him away to somewhere he doesn’t want to be and Raiders are giving them anything back if Stafford says he doesn’t want to be there. He decided to play in 2025-26 based on his conversations with McVay.
I do see a new contract though. Take some of that cap hit away, spread it out.
@ slund24 / Yep , Matty would simply retire. He’s got the ring and has nothing left to prove. He’s not going to get his aging body beat to a pulp just to be a part of the Raiders clown show.
Stafford is a difference maker lmao. They are super bowl contenders with him. He’s just getting old and each season is not a guarantee
I agree and I think he would retire instead of moving to a rebuild
If the Rams cut him he doesn’t have much of a choice about leaving, and they would gain 27 million in cap space ( per the writer). I’m thinking about places who may want a mediocre QB
I see them reworking the contract. If they cut him they have nobody to take over and they are still in a contending position.
If Rodgers left, could the Jets try for him?
Rams trade 3 1st Rd picks to Vikings for a tagged Darnold.
A couple things. I am continually amazed by not comparing the dead money, cap savings and the actual contract amounts. For example, right now Stanford has a $50m cap hit. if they released him or traded him after June 1, it’s a $27m dead money cap hit. Then they find a new guy. Even Darnold is probably going to get $30m. So now you’ve got $57m allocated to QB cap space. Unless they do something tricky with Sam’s contract. So are you better off paying Stafford $40m and maybe lowering cap hit to same or paying Sam $30m with a $57m total cap hit? Since it’s not my money, logic says you stay with Stafford. And if the Rams aren’t going to pay him. $40m, there’s a bigger issue. There is not going to be a better QB available at any cost. 100% this gets worked out and he’s here. I could even see them trying to bring in Fields as a backup to take over later (if they can fix him), but even he will probably make too much.
You mean you can’t just follow Fantasy Football trade rules?