The Los Angeles Rams are committed to Matthew Stafford as their starting quarterback this year. That much is certain. But after that, his contract doesn’t include much guaranteed money, opening the door for the team to move on from him if things don’t go well in 2024.
Because of that, Stafford is looking for an adjustment to his contract which will give him more guaranteed money beyond this season. Essentially, he wants a commitment from the Rams that he’ll be staying in Los Angeles for several years to come.
That report first emerged during the NFL draft when Ian Rapoport broke the news on NFL Network and since then, the Rams have been tight-lipped on the situation. Sean McVay has said they’re keeping it all internal, but almost three months later, no deal has gotten done.
Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk was on the “Pat McAfee Show” Friday and he wonders if Stafford will hold out for a new deal.
“I just can’t help but wonder what Matthew Stafford is going to do if he doesn’t get the new contract he’s been trying to get and they keep saying it’s coming, it’s coming, it’s coming,” Florio said. “If he doesn’t get it, would he really take a stand and not show up? I don’t think it’s in his DNA, but sometimes you have to take that stand to get what you deserve. And when Jared Goff got the $53 million a year and he’s the guy that they basically gave up a first-round pick to get rid of when they traded for Stafford and he’s at $40 (million per year), he’s clearly due for an adjustment.”
"The two Quarterbacks that I'm really watching are Matthew Stafford & Tua Tagovailoa..
Stafford is clearly due for an adjustment and he wants guaranteed money beyond this season"@ProFootballTalk #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/j9P2CkWZn9
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) July 19, 2024
Florio says this all started when the Rams didn’t draft a quarterback in Round 1, despite there being “some talk” that they might take one in the first round. That’s when Rapoport disclosed Stafford’s displeasure and it’s been a looming issue since then.
Ultimately, Florio seems to believe the two sides could get something done before camp, but he wonders if Stafford will take a stand and hold out for a raise.
“When they didn’t draft a quarterback, it was boom, right after that, Rapoport’s reporting that Stafford isn’t happy with his contract, he wants guaranteed money beyond this year because he knew they were kind of in a year-to-year arrangement with him and he doesn’t want that,” Florio added. “He wants security. It became a thing for a little while after the draft. Sean McVay talked about it a couple of times and got the impression that they realized, ‘Hey, we’re not going to go year to year with Matthew Stafford. We’re going to give him a commitment beyond this season.’ It hasn’t happened yet. Now, it’s a deadline-driven league and maybe it happens just as they’re getting ready to go to camp. But if it doesn’t, does Stafford say, ‘Hey, look guys, I’ve made this clear, what I want we know what the market is. Are you going to do it?’ I’d like to think they get it done before camp opens.”
