Turf Show Times
Everything we know about the Matthew Stafford situation with the Rams
The primary conversation surrounding the week at the NFL Combine will be what are the Los Angeles Rams going to do with quarterback Matthew Stafford. At this point, there are only two paths forward — either extend him and give him a pay raise with more guaranteed money or trade him. Whatever path the Rams take will be a commitment to the now or to their next era of players.
While it may seem as simple as, “Just pay Stafford whatever he wants,” it really is a lot more complicated. Stafford is a 37-year old quarterback and history for quarterbacks nearing the age of 40 hasn’t been good. There is one exception which is Tom Brady who played at a high level until age 45. It’s not realistic to also expect the same from Stafford.
Still, the Rams do seem to have a two-year window if Stafford were to remain the team’s starting quarterback. This was a team that was a completed pass away from hosting the NFC Championship Game.
Here’s the fact of the situation. Negotiations in the NFL tend to get messy. One side is going to push a story while the other pushes another. There are going to be a lot of different reports and things that are said. The best thing to do is to sift through those reports and try to find some common denominators.
The best place to start with a story is right at the very beginning. It’s been well-documented at this point that the starting point of the Stafford contract negotiations date back to last year. According to NFL Media, Stafford’s adjustment included a $23.5 million guaranteed salary in 2024, a $12.5 million signing bonus and a $4 million guaranteed March roster bonus.
Simply put, the Rams borrowed guaranteed money from 2025 making it essentially a one-year, $40 million deal as Stafford gave up his other 2025 guarantees. The Rams and Stafford opted to play out the season and then reasses. Well, here we are reassessing.
Stafford didn’t necessarily have his best year, but from Weeks 8-14 he ranked ninth among quarterbacks in CPOE+EPA composite. He had a middling end to the year before breaking out once again in the postseason. When the lights shine brightest, Stafford has shown that’s when he plays his best.
The decision on Stafford’s future has nothing to do with whether or not either side wants to remain together. As NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported, “It certainly sounds as if the priority is for Stafford to return.” ESPN’s Seth Walder also reported, “Both sides do want to shake something out, and a lot of other teams I’ve talked to, including teams that need a quarterback, are skeptical that Stafford would leave the Rams.”
When you add that to ESPN’s Dan Graziano’s report earlier this month of Stafford likely to return to L.A....
