[PARAM]

Tom Brady and Tampa won it all in 2020, Rams and Stafford in 2021 so it's hardly a must.

When the Stafford era is over, we'll see which way the Rams go...

We can count all those "mobile" QBs (not named Mahomes) who've won the SB since 1999 on one hand without using the thumb, pinky and ring finger.

And we'd need both hands to count all the mobile QBs who've lost the SB over the same period.

[Dare]

Indrid Cold: You bring this up all the time. Do you understand that the Rams have already paid Stafford $27M of the $50M for this year and nearly $23M that is applied to 2026? It's in his pocket already.

That $50M kicks in at the beginning of the new year and yes he will get the money if he retires. But why waste a whole year of this young defense to cater to a QB who is as limited as Stafford has proven himself to be.

Over the Cap: 2025 $23,000,000 is the positive cap when spread over 2 years.

No different than what they did with all the other high priced vets who left with money on the books. All I'm saying is if they can negotiate with let's say Jimmy as an example to play for $23M in 2025 its the same cap impact if Stafford plays. If Stafford retires that is exactly what they will do with his remaining guaranteed cap money. This is why if I was Kroenke I said I would be pissed about the holdout threat which added $4M to the guaranteed money for 2025.

[Indrid Cold]

That $50M kicks in at the beginning of the new year and yes he will get the money if he retires. But why waste a whole year of this young defense to cater to a QB who is as limited as Stafford has proven himself to be.

No different than what they did with all the other high priced vets who left with money on the books. All I'm saying is if they can negotiate with let's say Jimmy as an example to play for $23M in 2025 its the same cap impact if Stafford plays. If Stafford retires that is exactly what they will do with his remaining guaranteed cap money. This is why if I was Kroenke I said I would be pissed about the holdout threat which added $4M to the guaranteed money for 2025.

No $50M doesn't kick in at beginning of the year. The $50M breaks down as follows: $23M base salary (not paid, new money to him), $12M signing bonus proration (already paid), $4.166M restructure bonus proration (already paid), $6.5M option bonus proration (already paid), and $4M roster bonus (guaranteed to be paid under last year's restructure as you noted). Money Rams can avoid from a cash perspective is $23M, from a cap perspective it's zero.

Yeah, if the Rams spread the dead money over 2 years and pay Jimmy G $23M (a ridiculous idea/amount in its own right, are you his agent?), it would come to about $50M in 2025. So we pay the same amount and downgrade significantly and have $25M in dead cap in 2026 (you left that out). The difference between "other high-priced vets" is: 1) it's significantly more dead money (Donald was only $32M and a result of his decision; next highest was probably Cooks at $20M), and 2) it's the f-ing QB.

But you did get it right when you said "if I were Stan K, I'd be pissed..." You equate your thinking with the Rams. If I were Stan K, I'd be pissed if someone showed Stafford the door and my team had to use 10% of the cap the next 2 years for him not to play...and even more pissed that we compounded the dumb decision with an even worse one by giving Jimmy G $23M.

If Stafford wants to retire, good for him...nothing to be done.

[AvengerRam]

That $50M kicks in at the beginning of the new year and yes he will get the money if he retires. But why waste a whole year of this young defense to cater to a QB who is as limited as Stafford has proven himself to be.

Do you honestly believe that there is a QB available to the Rams who would give the Rams a better chance of contending in 2025 than Stafford?

[ramsman34]

….And wouldn’t cost north of $40 mil per?

[Dare]

Stafford's career is done be it this year or next year. His so called extension is going to be nothing of the sort.

The Rams are going to need a bridge QB1 for a year because they will finally do this year what they should have done last year. They will draft a QB and give him a redshirt year as #2. Unlike the media, I know there are decent prospects that can be had in the late first or even into the second day. They are not viewed as first day starters but are projected to be very good in McVay's new offensive scheme.

What is gone is the need for an all-star QB. The Eagles gave the NFL its new blueprint. A strong run game with a complimentary passing game. The new QB doesn't have to have HOF potential. Look at the Niners who went to a SB with Purdy, but had a strong run game, and solid defense.

The Rams have the defense. They have a good run game. They simply need a QB that isn't a sitting duck. Purdy isn't a running QB but has a good accurate arm out to all levels. He's good at his initial reads and goes very quickly through his progressions. But most of all he can get those 5 to 10 yards if everything breaks down and the defense loses contain. The Niners lost that SB because of bad coaching decisions. They struggled this year which is being blamed on Purdy, but is in reality a product of bad roster management by both Shanny and their GM. They also got hit like the Rams with a lot of key injuries, especially on defense.

Hurts and Purdy aren't HOF level QBs. Yet both franchises won enough to get to a SB with them. Hurts is an RPO type QB and isn't a fit for this offense. Purdy is the blueprint for the next Ram QB1 and because he isn't a true dual threat he will be on the board on the second day. That is why IMO they will need to trade for a second round pick or just take the QB earlier than they would otherwise. Look at the Fiske trade. They didn't want to risk losing him so they did what they had to and moved up. That is why taking a QB at 26 isn't out of the question because it also gives them control of his contract for 5 years. That is important if you are going to sit him for a year to learn, mature, and develop.

That Is the blueprint for the next Ram QB1, not another Stafford but an improved Purdy. I see him at least 6'2" tall, with a strong accurate arm to all 3 levels. His game must include the ability to read quickly and go through his progressions quickly. He needs good mobility to extend plays and or run to pick up at least 5 yards when necessary but doesn't need to be a running RPO type of QB. Look at the prospects there are at least 3 or maybe four depending upon if they come out a year early.

Everyone overlooked Nacua because he didn't fit their rigid metrics of what a WR should be. McVay and the Rams are looking for traits that make them scheme fits which is why they draft well. Kyren Williams is a 5th round pick. He isn't big and fast, but he's fast enough with 4.6 speed, he's got superior field vision, excellent agility, and can run through contact. It's that quality that made him a starter, but for an injury his rookie year he would have played in more than 10 games. But he was overlooked in the draft because he didn't fit the classic metrics or those in vogue with the rest of the NFL.

All I've been saying in regards to drafting a QB is that the Rams will take the same type of approach which has been outstanding the past two drafts and in 2023 allowed them to move on from Akers who had breakaway speed but was primarily a perimeter RB. The Rams understood they needed to shift the run offense inside to make the play action far more effective and in that role, Williams had the qualities they needed and Akers didn't.

McVay's offense shifted towards the end of 2023 from a score from anywhere on the field type of offense to a more sustainable ball control offense. Their choices in RB (Williams over Akers) the bigger tougher OL inside, and their choices of WRs (Nacua, Robinson, and Whittington away from deep threats like Atwell and Kupp). So you don't think they will follow that blueprint with a new QB? I would be surprised if they didn't.

[ramman2999]

Yo it’s Stafford!!!!! Unless Patrick Mahomes is walking through that door he’s the guy.

Wanna bring in Justin Fields????

Stafford will be back next season. We will compete with him.

Dont think about Darnold hes signing with the Raiders.

[ramman2999]

I want you guys to really look at this post and analyze it. Watch film.

Joe Burrow is a mobile Quarterback. Sneaky athleticism.

If he continues to get frustrated in Cincinatti and thinks he can’t win there. And if they do something stupid like not bring Jamar Chase back. He can be in play. That’s what the Rams do. Same thing they did with Stafford. They will acquire the capital. They will accumulate the Capital.

Players want to play for Sean Mcvay.

Don’t bang your head on the wall. Matthew Stafford will be the Quarterback here next season he will sign a two year deal. He’s the reason Sean Mcvay came back.

We’re close.

Stay with me. Stay the fuck with me.

Would you guys oppose Derek Carr??? A guy who looks close with all the ability just doesn’t have the right team. If Stafford were to retire or even having him learn from Stafford a couple of seasons. Still young.

These are guys with potential who are still young in the league.

1. Malike Willis. I like what I saw when he filled in for the Packers. Poise. Mobility. Ran a similar offense with Matt Laffleuer would be great with Mcvay.

2. Will Levi’s raw rawwwww dumb made dumb play after dumb play. But loads of potential. I like what I saw in his rookie season. Big 6-5” great arm. Mobile Josh Allen poor who was raw his first few seasons. Took off with Dabol. Would do great with Sean Mcvay in this offense with Nacua. Two seasons to learn the offense from Matthew Stafford stuff like that. We gotta look at guys like that.

Who won’t come in right away but can learn from Stafford

Or after Stafford retires. Suck get your assets and make a play for the next guy like a Joe Burrow. That sounds like the most realistic to me. That seems like the most realistic to me.

[ramsman34]

I have been contemplating what it would take to get Burrow. He would be phenomenal with MCV. No way the Bengals are that inept to let him go.

I also like the idea of trying get Hendon Hooker as a young developmental QB.

[AvengerRam]

If you’re looking for traits common to successful QBs, high draft position is a good one.

14 playoff QB1s this year:

3 No. 1 overall (Stafford, Goff, Mayfield), 6 additional top 10 picks (Mahomes, Daniels, Allen, Darnold, Herbert, Stroud), 3 later first round picks (Jackson, Love, Nix).

The remaining two were second (Hurts) and third (Wilson) round picks.

So…while it’s fine to try to snag a developmental/future QB1 after the first round, finding such a player aren’t great.