During last month’s draft, it was revealed that Matthew Stafford is seeking a new deal with the Rams. Although he has two years left on his current contract beyond 2024, those salaries are not guaranteed.
Stafford had a healthy season last year, bouncing back from a 2022 season where he was limited to nine games. He led the Rams to a surprising postseason run, boosting his leverage in contract negotiations. Head coach Sean McVay recently confirmed that the team is in discussions for a new deal with Stafford, and those talks are ongoing.
According to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic, the team and Stafford are still in negotiations (subscription required). This is not unexpected given McVay’s comments about the 36-year-old’s future. Although Stafford has faced retirement questions in the past, the team seems ready to keep him as their starting quarterback for the foreseeable future. Securing a deal with more upfront money could help ensure this.
Stafford is currently set to earn $27 million and $26 million in 2025 and 2026, respectively. However, his cap hits for those years are $50.5 million and $49.5 million, the latter being the same as his cap hit for 2024. A new contract could reduce his impact on the Rams’ salary cap, but the team will need to consider the terms carefully given Stafford’s age. This year, the team has veteran backup Jimmy Garoppolo and 2023 fourth-round pick Stetson Bennett as a developmental quarterback.
The Rams’ offensive success this season will largely depend on Stafford’s performance. Unlike many players seeking new deals, he has participated in Los Angeles’ OTAs, making his status worth monitoring. As Rodrigue notes, the team typically resolves contract issues like this before training camp starts in July. It will be interesting to see if Stafford secures a new agreement by then.