Getty Matthew Stafford of the Rams.
Matthew Stafford won’t be done in Southern California anytime soon.
Per ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter on the afternoon of Saturday, March 19, the Los Angeles Rams quarterback has signed a new blockbuster deal that becomes the latest step in keeping the Super Bowl champs in tact.
The deal, per Schefter, involves $160 million with $135 million guaranteed.
“Rams and Matthew Stafford finalized a four-year, $160 million extension that includes $135 million guaranteed that should allow the veteran QB to finish his career in Los Angeles, sources tell ESPN,” Schefter tweeted.
But there’s more to the four-year extension as noted by the NFL insider.
“Matthew Stafford’s new deal is expected to help the Rams to sign other free agents and help keep the Super-Bowl team together,” Schefter said.
Matthew Stafford’s new deal is expected to help the Rams to sign other free agents and help keep the Super-Bowl team together.
The Rams Twitter account also announced the move — using the famed three words that has become the team’s rallying cry heading into the 2022 season: Run it back.
Whole lot more of QB1 on the way!
Stafford Deal Makes Him Among Highest Paid NFL QBs
How rich is Stafford now?
Per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Stafford is now due for $43 million annually — making him richer than Dak Prescott’s $40 million a year deal with the Dallas Cowboys.
“More specifics on Matthew Stafford’s extension: It’s effectively a three-year extension worth $129M — $43M a year. There are added years for cap purposes. But $43 million over the next three of the deal,” was what Rapoport tweeted.
Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills ($43,005,667 via Spotrac) and Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs ($45 million annually) are the only other NFL quarterbacks who will make more than the $43 million mark this season.
Stafford’s contract comes after shattering one franchise mark previously held by Hall of Famer Kurt Warner: 4,886 yards that beat Warner’s previous mark of 4,830 during his Most Valuable Player season of 2001. Stafford’s 41 touchdowns also tied a franchise best with Warner’s 41 aerial scores in 1999, during the Rams’ first Super Bowl winning season.
Helluva first season from 9️⃣.
Stafford has since been in the L.A. spotlight following winning his first career Super Bowl: Being spotted courtside with his wife Kelly at Los Angeles Lakers home games and starring in this now popular AT&T commercial that has Stafford referencing his time in Detroit before making his “life changing trade.”
This Matthew Stafford commercial is epic 🤌
Rams Make Additional Roster Move
Before ensuring that Stafford will have an extended stay in L.A., the Rams also signed a key piece back to their 2022 roster.
Return ace Brandon Powell resigned to a one-year deal, announced by the team’s Twitter account at 12:49 p.m. PT. — nearly 30 minutes before the team extended Stafford.
Ready to get back to work with Brandon Powell! 🤝
And the decision to re-add Powell got the Rams social media account “flippin’ excited about this one” while showing a clip of Powell flipping into the end zone.
Flippin’ excited about this one! 😉
Powell has had a unique journey to get himself on the active roster. He first started out as a practice squad addition in November 2021. But from there, he sparked some needed special teams dynamics for the champs.
Powell went on to average 22.2 yards per punt return and scored one touchdown — a 61-yard scamper against the Minnesota Vikings that earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. He also averaged 26 yards per kickoff return. The 5-foot-8, 188-pound Powell accomplished career-highs with the Rams in six starts.