Will Rams be 'desperate' to find eventual Matthew Stafford successor this offseason?

Earlier this week, head coach Sean McVay confirmed that the Los Angeles Rams and veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford have had "great dialogue" about a possible revised contract or an extension this offseason. 

That said, some have suggested that the Rams could spend a high-value 2026 draft pick on Alabama Crimson Tide signal-caller Ty Simpson with the hope that Simpson will become Stafford's eventual successor. 

Per Stu Jackson of the Rams' website, general manager Les Snead suggested this week that he may not start thinking about a post-Stafford plan anytime soon. 

Rams not "desperate' to make this Matthew Stafford-related decision 

"We're not desperate to," Snead explained about possibly landing a future starting quarterback this spring. "That's always a possibility, but it's not a desperate matter."

Stafford is reportedly due to make around $40M for the final season of his existing deal, which makes him quite a bargain considering the contracts attached to other quarterbacks this winter. Unlike those individuals, Stafford was officially revealed as the Most Valuable Player for the 2025 regular season this past February. While he turned 38 years old that same month, his production through January 2026 indicates he isn't slowing down. 

Stafford and the Rams have taken things a year at a time across the previous few seasons, and he teased following the club's loss to the Seattle Seahawks in January's NFC Championship Game that he could retire. Such uncertainty could lead one to believe the Rams won't make a multiyear commitment to Stafford, and Snead seems to see the writing on the wall regarding what is to come for the club sooner rather than later. 

Rams being "honest" about Matthew Stafford's future?

"I think I've mentioned it before," Snead continued. "We're always working through the scenarios. We're well aware Matthew's closer to retirement than not. Matthew and I had a fun text chain or call the night that Philip Rivers was playing a Thursday night game. He was on date night, and I'm like, 'This guy's 44.' That was a joking thing, but let's call it like it is. We've all been honest on that."

Perhaps such honesty will result in the Rams taking a flier on a so-called "reclamation project" quarterback, similar to how the San Francisco 49ers signed Mac Jones to an inexpensive two-year deal last March.