Matthew Stafford, quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams, talks with head coach Sean McVay before a game against the Arizona Cardinals.
After joining the Los Angeles Rams in 2021 through one of the biggest trades in NFL history, former Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford’s future with the Rams has been under growing speculation.
The Rams have reportedly placed All-Pro receiver Cooper Kupp on the trade block, with many insiders suggesting Stafford could also be available. However, Fox Sports insider Jordan Schultz reported this week that the Rams are likely to keep Stafford unless a team is willing to pay a steep price.
Rams Coach Wants Stafford to Stay
Schultz mentioned that league sources are “adamant” that Rams head coach Sean McVay and the organization want Stafford, 37, to stay in Los Angeles. McVay led the 2021 trade that sent Jared Goff to Detroit and brought Stafford to LA, a move that paid off when Stafford led the Rams to a Super Bowl win the following season.
Multiple teams have inquired about Stafford’s availability, according to Schultz, with a first-round pick being the asking price. With other veteran quarterbacks available at lower costs, Schultz predicts that Stafford will remain with the Rams in 2025.
“Again, the Rams want him back (he also carries a $49.3 million cap hit if released) and nothing to date suggests Stafford wants to leave, but this remains one of the biggest storylines ahead of next month’s free agency. Before then, the Rams and Stafford’s agent will meet in Indianapolis to try to reach an agreement,” Schultz added.
Rams Must Decide on Paying Stafford
Schultz also noted that Stafford wants a new deal if he stays in Los Angeles, which will likely come with a hefty price tag.
“Trading Stafford would cause a $45.3 million dead cap hit in 2025 and nearly $23 million in 2026,” Schultz reported. “Stafford, set to earn just under $30 million next season, seeks a contract with future guarantees that would put him among the league’s top 10 quarterbacks.”
While the Rams and Stafford are expected to discuss a new contract, The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue reported that the team is hesitant to commit so much money to a veteran quarterback whose long-term durability is uncertain.
“If there’s a difference between Stafford and the Rams, it likely stems from this: The Rams aren’t eager to make a major financial commitment to a veteran QB whose long-term future is unclear, as their focus is now on a youthful roster built through the draft,” Rodrigue wrote.
However, Rodrigue also added that the Rams have quickly rebuilt after their Super Bowl win, transitioning from an aging veteran-heavy team to one centered around young stars. Stafford could be the ideal leader to guide them on another Super Bowl run.
“There are two truths: Eventually, the Rams will need a long-term quarterback who grows with the roster and doesn’t prevent them from paying their first- and second-year stars when their extensions are due (and future quarterbacks as well),” Rodrigue wrote. “But with their roster ready to contend sooner than expected, why not bring back their elite quarterback and pursue another championship?”
