In 12 years with the Detroit Lions, Matthew Stafford never won a playoff game. In his first season with the Los Angeles Rams, he won the Super Bowl. It was exactly the magical season the Rams hoped to have when they traded for Stafford, and he more than delivered.
One year with the Rams was also all it took for Stafford to crack the top 30 on the NFL’s annual list of the 100 best players in the NFL. The rankings are being revealed little by little, and on Sunday night, Stafford’s name popped up.
He was voted the 27th-best player in the NFL entering 2022, the highest ranking of his career. His previous best was No. 31 in 2017 and 2018. Last year, Stafford was ranked outside the top 100, which just goes to show what the 2021 season did for him.
Last year, Stafford threw for 4,886 yards and 41 touchdowns, though he did lead the league with 17 interceptions. Still, he led the Rams to a 12-5 record, and most importantly, a Super Bowl victory over the Bengals. The Rams rewarded him with a four-year, $160 million contract this offseason.
The list is voted on by NFL players, and though it may not be the most accurate ranking of talent, it does give fans an idea of how players are viewed around the league.
