Rams Get New Update on Matthew Stafford’s Future

The Los Angeles Rams appear positioned for continuity at quarterback beyond the upcoming season, according to a recent assessment of Matthew Stafford’s future with the team.

Stafford, who turned 38 in February, is set to begin his 18th NFL campaign. He remains under contract through the 2027 season and is owed $50 million in guaranteed money.

The Rams selected quarterback Ty Simpson with the 13th overall pick in the 2026 draft, providing a potential long-term option behind the veteran. Stetson Bennett is also on the roster as a backup.

Despite his age, Stafford has indicated that his body feels good and that he continues to enjoy the game. Those comments carry weight for a player at this stage of his career.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano examined the situation facing the Rams and their three-time Pro Bowl quarterback. Graziano noted that age and health will play major roles in how much longer Stafford chooses to play.

“By all accounts, Stafford is healthy, rejuvenated and thinking about playing two more years,” Graziano wrote.

He added that Stafford “also has a degenerative back condition, has already won a Super Bowl and has made more money than he could ever possibly need. Stafford walking away after this coming season would not be the biggest shock in NFL history. And the Rams know they don’t have much longer with Stafford, which is why they used their 2026 first-round pick on quarterback Ty Simpson.”

Graziano described Stafford returning for the 2027 season as the most likely outcome. In that scenario, the quarterback would finish the year feeling healthy and elect to continue playing.

A less probable path involves significant setbacks. Graziano outlined a scenario in which injuries affect Stafford and other older players, the team falls short of Super Bowl expectations, and wide receiver Puka Nacua’s contract situation remains unresolved.

“Health issues plague Stafford and several of the other older stars on the roster,” Graziano wrote. “The Rams fall well short of the Super Bowl. Star wideout Puka Nacua never gets his contract extension, and the offseason opens with questions about whether he’ll leave in free agency. The Sean McVay TV rumors percolate again. And a banged-up Stafford decides it’s all too much and walks away with that one year left on his contract.”

The Rams enter the season as Super Bowl favorites after leading the league in offense last year. They have strengthened their defense by adding cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson along with reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to bolster the pass rush.

While the team cannot fully control health outcomes for Stafford or his teammates, it holds influence over other factors Graziano mentioned. The organization can use the franchise tag on Nacua to retain him for another season or employ the transition tag, which would allow them to match any free-agent offer he receives.

Drafting Simpson a year earlier than some expected also gives head coach Sean McVay additional time to develop the young quarterback while still relying on Stafford in the present.

Stafford’s decision will likely come after the season ends, once he has time to evaluate how his body responds over a full slate of games.

For now, the Rams appear prepared for either path, though the expectation remains that their veteran quarterback will be under center again in 2027.