When it comes to the LA Rams and veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford, there’s no denying that both sides share mutual respect and admiration for each other.

However, when it comes to financial matters, the gap between them seems wider than ever. It’s well known that Matthew Stafford took time to decide his future. It’s also clear that he chose to return for the 2025 NFL season. But things are far from simple, as the Rams now face pressure to address five critical issues related to Stafford’s return.

One of the first decisions was to trade his close friend and teammate, WR Cooper Kupp, which already puts the Rams at a disadvantage.

Still, the core issue here is money. The LA Rams have Stafford under contract through 2026, so why the problem?

The issue centers around his compensation. In 2024, Stafford sought guaranteed money. To address that, the Rams accelerated Stafford’s guaranteed salary for 2024, which solved that year’s issue but created even more complications for 2025. Currently, Stafford only has his roster bonus guaranteed for both 2025 and 2026.

If the Rams were to cut or trade Stafford now, they could save nearly $50 million against their 2025 salary cap. This is the root cause of the contentious contract (re)negotiations. Stafford has made it clear that he will not report to training camp unless his contract reflects what he feels is his fair market value.

At 37, Stafford is showing signs of the inevitable decline that comes with aging in the NFL, with the 30-year-old milestone marking a significant shift for players. Stafford may still believe his performance is worthy of playoff contention, and when he’s there, it is. However, the same factors influencing the Rams’ decision to trade Cooper Kupp will play a major role in determining Stafford’s contract for the 2025 season.

Meanwhile, the Rams have always preferred to handle contract discussions, trade negotiations, and communication about players’ futures privately. This closed-door approach led to the trade of projected starting ILB Ernest Jones IV right before the 2024 season began.

But that’s how the Rams operate—or at least, how they prefer to operate.