[Dare]

IMO the Rams will take a year to year approach with Matt. If he stays healthy and plays strong in 2024 they can simply guarantee part of his yearly salary in 2025 without adding new money. His salary is around $27M so they could guarantee him say $10M of that amount if he wants to play in 2025. He already is going to receive $18.5M guarantee for 2025. They can do the same in 2026 should they want to.

But to expect Stafford not to miss games over the next two years (this year and next year) is a bad bet. Even with the improved OL, his tendonitis could flare up at any point. Regardless IMO two more years is all the Rams can expect from Matt. Next year the Rams honestly need to prepare for life without Stafford be it with a vet or rookie.

[ramsman34]

I love Stafford but his extensive injury history can't be ignored. I think the Rams originally projected his potential retirement at the end of this year. They are approaching their team building in that manner.

I think there have been talks about extending him through 2025 but since he has no guaranteed "salary" remaining on his contract he wants more. He's already looking at over $50M just for 2025. It's not like none of that is guaranteed already. $37M of that $50M is already guaranteed.

Time to say no. He's an aging athlete who feels indestructible until he's not. This is why I think they tried to move up into the top 10 to grab a QB but couldn't do it. It's why they originally thought they would have Chop to play as edge. That is not to say I'm unhappy with Verse because I'm not. I had him as my top edge for months. Only to say Snead and McVay need to take a long view and understand they can extend Stafford in January if they feel it's warranted. Matt is only one year removed from his 2022 struggles, much of that health related.

Time to roll out plan B for their QB1. Matt needs a big dose of reality. Let's see how he fares this season before they extend him an additional year. The guy has chronic tendonitis and that isn't going away. It will get worse before it gets better.

Rattler and Pratt are still on the board. I think the Rams need to take one of them before they commit to Stafford for that additional year. Both Pratt and Rattler are one to two year project type of QB. Rattler has the stronger arm but Pratt's style of play is a better fit for McVay's offense and would give them a "Purdy like" QB which with a strong defense and run game would still allow the Rams to be legit contenders.

Don't forget Carson Beck could come out early. I like the kid and thus far he's shown a lot of traits that would fit well in the Ram's current offense. He's got prototypical length, and he's a good pocket passer with a pretty good arm. My guess is if he has a good year at GA he will declare. Without the QB craziness of this year, the Rams could probably move up to get him.

My point is that the Rams need to take the long view at QB1. Guys like Pratt and Beck could fill that QB1 position. What Purdy showed is that if you have a complete roster on both sides of the ball, the QB1 only needs to be good, not elite to compete. Both Purdy and Goff have proved that. The Lions lost because of questionable coaching not because of Goff.

Sure, at some point sooner rather than later they need to look to the future. But your proposition to “take care” of Stafford one year at a time does not provide the security he wants increased for the additional time he expects and wants to play - he isn’t saying, “I’m taking this one year at a time”. He said he wants to keep playing and win more chips. And it sends a bad message to him that the Rams don’t value him longer term - 2,3, maybe 4 more years. You predict his tendinitis will flare up. You don’t know that. And frankly, the less often he’s hit, the longer he stays injury free. The plan is to run the ball more and more efficiently. He should actually make fewer throws compared to the past if the plan plays out.

I think your take is not in alignment with what the Rams and Stafford want. The Rams want him to commit for x years and they want to make that extension/raise as cap friendly as possible. Staff wants security and to be paid like a top 5 QB, which he is. The Goff deal will be a framework as will A. Rogers’ latest deal with the Jets - parameters and deal points the Rams will have to match to “respect” who and what Stafford is to the Rams and the league.

[Elvis]

Besides the fact the Rams have a history of taking care of their stars, like Stafford, they also have an interest in keeping McVay happy. I really have a hard time imagining how this doesn't get done, and fairly soon...

[AltiTude Ram]

He deserves more money just for being able to interpret McVay's play calls.

[Rams1PlateSince1976]

Never five words when 50 will do.

[snackdaddy]

If more guaranteed money means he'll stick around a few more years then pay the man.

[ramsman34]

Pastors said yesterday that his agent had not said anything about more $$. And that Stafford never talks to him about anything contract related. Is there smoke?? Or is this click bait??

I asked Tony directly if they would consider extending him through 2028 and if they feel this “story” meant Staff wants to be extended. He towed the company line “keeping it in house”

[Dare]

When you look at Matt's contract he will be paid $50.5M which would be guaranteed already if he is on the roster at the start of the season. Why does he want more?

The same will be said about 2026 where he would earn $49.5M. guaranteed. So if Stafford plays in 2025 and 2026 the will earn $100M for two years. I'm probably in the minority here but I say he doesn't need more "guaranteed" money than what is already in his contract. If he doesn't like it he can just retire and he still will get about $37M.

Yeah the Rams have a history of taking care of their own. But haven't they done right by Matt already? They have built this team to be a winner this year.

People need to put this into context. Matt Stafford will have $328M in career earnings (which includes this contract). This is why I say it's nothing more than a shakedown. Poor boy can't live on that? No it's because it's keeping up with others.

At some point the Rams need to prepare to move on from Matt Stafford. They can't allow themselves to be held hostage by an aging injury prone QB. It's a case of better a year early than waste a year being a year too late.

[actionjack]

Pastors said yesterday that his agent had not said anything about more $$. And that Stafford never talks to him about anything contract related. Is there smoke?? Or is this click bait??

I asked Tony directly if they would consider extending him through 2028 and if they feel this “story” meant Staff wants to be extended. He towed the company line “keeping it in house”

Doesnt he just want more money guaranteed and clean up the end of his contract?

All I know is Stafford is the most talented QB the Rams have ever had and insuring him to be here for the next 3-4 years should be everyone's goal. After Stafford is gone., a very good chance the Rams wont be relevant for awhile, too hard to find a top ten QB.

[ramsman34]

According to Patoors, Stafford/his agent hasn’t asked for anything. Not saying Pastoors was lying to us but, he wasn’t telling us anything. I put a hypothetical to him to try to gauge where they all are on Staff’s future. My question was less about the money and more about how long he will be a Ram - which speaks to your point about having a top tier QB. You want to keep him as long as possible, operating at the highest level, and above all - healthy. AD told MCV after the superbowl, “I’ll give you 2 more years”. I was trying to pry out if a convo with Staff like that has happened. It didn’t work. lol. I dont think the Rams are really comfortable taking this year by year. But, that may be where this is, as Dare suggested. Stafford is in the beginning of his latest extension. He’s signed through 2026, he’s making good money about $50m/yr salary. But is he paid like a top 5 QB??? Does he want to be??? And that’s about guaranteed $$, not contract “value” We don’t know those answers.