The Los Angeles Rams’ offseason aggression is based on maximizing their remaining time with Matthew Stafford under center. Stafford, coming off winning the Most Valuable Player, is one of several Rams in the news on Monday.
He is entering his 18th season, and the sixth with the Rams.
If this is to be his final season, Stafford and the Rams could punctuate it with a fitting trip to the Super Bowl.
Matthew Stafford Among Rams Contract Updates
GettyMatthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams gestures against the New Orleans Saints.
Stafford is signed through the 2026 season, and there have been talks between his camp and Rams brass about his current two-year, $84 million contract.
In the meantime, Stafford was one of seven Rams players whose deals had some sort of vesting trigger over this past weekend. Alaric Jackson, Coleman Shelton, Colby Parkinson, Davante Adams, Nate Landman, and Poona Ford did as well.
Spotrac’s Michael Ginnitti detailed all seven in a post on X on March 16.
Stafford’s ($40M) and Jackson’s ($18.9M) 2026 salaries became guaranteed. Adams ($6M), Ford ($3.8M), Landman ($4.45M), Parkinson ($1.5M), and Shelton ($3M) got roster bonuses.
Landman also had $5 million of his salary in 2027 guaranteed. Still, the Rams’ decision–or rather indecision–regarding Stafford stands out amid uncertainty about the three-time (and should-be four-time) Pro Bowler’s future beyond the 2026 campaign.
Stafford turned 38 in February and has been a retirement possibility for the past few seasons.
“QB Matthew Stafford’s 2026 salary becomes fully guaranteed on March 15th,” Ginnitti wrote in January. “Converting it to bonus can free up $11.7M of cap space.”
Stafford has left the door open for 2027, but neither he nor the Rams have committed to it, which could set the 2026 campaign up as the QB’s final act. It would also make sense that the Rams avoided adjusting his contract, which often results in void years after deals expire.
Rams Keeping Lines of Communication Open
GettyMatthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams and the AP NFL Most Valuable Player looks on during the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
Rams head coach Sean McVay spoke candidly about how happy they were that Stafford was returning for next season and how they can help him get to and through the regular campaign better than last year.
Stafford navigated a back injury that sidelined him during training camp and the preseason.
It did not hinder him during the season, but the Rams certainly would like to avoid the issue altogether while also looking to work through contract talks.
“We’re working. We’ve had great dialogue. I think the good thing is that communication, that exists. Feel confident about being able to work those things out,” McVay told reporters on March 3. “We were obviously really fired up [Stafford announced his return]. Had a sense that that was the direction it was going to go. But that’s always as important as anything, is having a guy like him excited and motivated to continue to play at a good clip.
“We learned some things about how we can manage the offseason and training camp as good as possible to keep him as fresh mentally, physically, and emotionally. And we’ll work through all of those things, but feel good about the direction that we’re headed as it relates to Matthew being in good shape for us.”
Rams general manager Les Snead echoed McVay’s sentiments.
“We’ve chatted with Matthew with his reps. So, I think that is in a very stable, let’s call it, situation, condition,” Snead said on March 3. “We’ll continue taking it year by year, but we definitely expect Matthew to be our QB.”
Matthew Stafford Gets Good News Amid Extensive Rams Update