Sean McVay dodges questions about Matthew Stafford's contract issue

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay did well on Tuesday to dance around the fact that quarterback Matthew Stafford reportedly wants more guaranteed money beyond the 2024 season.

"Out of respect for the situation, we’ll just keep it in house," McVay said about the matter, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "What I am appreciative of is that he’s here leading the way and it’s been a good couple days for him." 

Stafford reportedly declined a request from the Rams last offseason to restructure the contract extension he signed in March 2022 after he was the subject of numerous retirement rumors. According to Pro-Football-Reference, the 36-year-old then finished the 2023 season ranked sixth with a 63.5 adjusted QBR. Across 15 games, Stafford tossed 24 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions en route to guiding the club to a playoff berth. 

"He’s here and we appreciate that, and he knows that," McVay said about Stafford participating in voluntary organized team activities. "I’ve had good conversations with him about football and anything other than that, really just going to keep it in house." 

Stafford suggested last November he will embrace "as many opportunities to" extend his career because he enjoys "playing too much to hang it up." NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport (h/t Grant Gordon) noted that the one-time Super Bowl champion has no guaranteed salary for the 2025 and 2026 seasons attached to his current deal. 

"I respect the questions, I really do," McVay added without denying that Stafford is less-than-pleased about the state of his contract. "But, you know, out of respect for just the totality of the situation and, really, there’s just a lot of things that we want to be able to just keep in house. And if there is any information on that front, you guys will certainly know and maybe you’ll break it on your Twitter."

The Rams' mandatory minicamp is scheduled to run from June 10 through June 12. Stafford could make quite the statement about his level of unhappiness by staying away from the club for those sessions, as he certainly can afford to pay any fines related to such a decision.