The Rams made their first Day 1 draft choice of the Sean McVay era Thursday night, but their selection (edge-rusher Jared Verse) did not produce a potential Matthew Stafford successor. The latter is in place as Los Angeles’ starting quarterback for the time being, though he is seeking an adjustment to his contract.
Specifically, Stafford is aiming to secure more guaranteed money beyond the coming season, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports. The 36-year-old is due a $31M base salary in 2024, all of which is guaranteed. Two years remain on the deal beyond that, but Stafford’s salaries in 2025 ($27M) and 2026 ($26M) are not locked in.
Stafford (who has attended the team’s offseason program) inked a $160M extension in the 2022 offseason, one during which fellow franchise pillars Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp landed raises. One year later, though, the Rams attempted to find a trade partner for Stafford prior to making a near-$60M commitment for the 2023 season. This past campaign brought about a new round of questions about the two-time Pro Bowler’s future, but McVay has confirmed Stafford will serve as the team’s starter for 2024.
Los Angeles brought in a veteran backup (Jimmy Garoppolo) to occupy the QB2 role and 2023 draftee Stetson Bennett remains in the organization. The latter could represent an eventual Stafford replacement, especially if injuries become an issue in 2024. Stafford was limited to nine contests in 2023 due to an elbow issue and he missed a pair of contests last season.
As things stand, the former Lion is due a $5M roster bonus in mid-March of 2025 and 2026. His cap hits for those campaigns – as well as the coming one – range between $49.5M and $50.5M, so a new agreement could be aimed at lowering those figures in addition to providing Stafford security beyond his fourth Rams season. He rebounded from the injury-plagued campaign one year prior in 2023, throwing for 3,965 yards and 26 combined regular and postseason touchdowns.
Still, the Rams have been linked to a quarterback addition at some point during this year’s draft and a selection relatively early on Day 2 could indicate a willingness to keep Stafford’s contract intact as currently constructed. It will be interesting to see how the team proceeds on this front as the Rams prepare for at least one more season committed to the veteran.
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