Turf Show Times
If the Rams can’t agree to a new contract with Matthew Stafford, a trade is on the table
The Los Angeles Rams are preparing to part ways with Cooper Kupp and according to a report on Sunday by ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Sunday, Matthew Stafford could follow him out the door if the quarterback and team are unable to come to a new contract agreement.
Stafford has a cap hit of $49.6 million in 2025 with a $23 million base salary, none of which is guaranteed, and a guaranteed $4 million roster bonus. The reason the team would want a new contract would be to lower Stafford’s cap hit, but the reason the quarterback is looking for a new deal is because he doesn’t have enough guaranteed money and knows that he doesn’t have any security beyond his roster bonus.
The two sides agreed to a re-worked contract before the season with the Rams probably hoping to see a really good season from Stafford at 36 before fully committing. Did they see enough?
Stafford is signed through 2026, so an extension was going to be on the table sooner or later anyway depending on how much longer the quarterback wants to play in the NFL. Stafford indicated after the season that he doesn’t feel like he’s winding down.
But parting ways with Kupp has apparently hit the quarterback hard and he may want to be assured that L.A. intends to win the Super Bowl in 2025 and 2026 and 2027 before he re-ups, or as he did in 2021 with the Lions, he could ask for a trade.
Contract or trade? The Rams must make the right decision or it could slow down their pace towards getting back to the Super Bowl.
