More proof that the Rams are locked in with Matthew Stafford through 2026
The Matthew Stafford revised contract numbers are in, and if the draft wasn’t evidence enough that the L.A. Rams do not plan to lose the quarterback after the 2025 season, then what they are paying him certainly is:
- New 2-year, $80 million contract beginning in 2025
- $56 million guaranteed
- Option bonuses added over the next two years
- $26 million raise
- $35 million dead money and only $6 million cap savings if released in 2026
There are also three void years added to the contract after 2026, allowing the Rams to save over $8 million in 2025 cap space.
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Matthew Stafford is a Ram for at least two more seasons.
The draft should have said enough
The Rams have their eyes set on 2025 with Stafford under contract and will wait until 2026 to make a move at the position with an extra first-round draft pick to play with thanks to the Atlanta Falcons. The only reason they would be comfortable making that decision is if they knew that Stafford planned on spending at the very least the next two seasons with the Rams.
Some thought that the New York Giants moved in front of the Los Angeles Rams at the 25th overall pick to snag Jaxson Dart in this year’s draft away from Les Snead, but LA’s better move was adding a first rounder in 2026.
LA added three offensive and defensive threats in the draft who could make an instant impact on their road to the Lombardi Trophy next season. The decision could mean that behind the curtains and regardless what Stafford’s contract states, LA’s elite QB is locked in for at least this season and the next.
The fact that NY MOVED ahead of the Rams to take Jaxson Dart means they thought there was a chance LA would take Jaxson Dart.
It also means they weren’t ok taking the “next guy” if LA took Jaxson Dart.
There’s a lot happening here. https://t.co/L3eAAJxqxV
— Lindsay Rhodes (@lindsay_rhodes) April 25, 2025
There was plenty of speculation that Snead and head coach Sean McVay would use a draft pick this draft to find a QB to sit behind Stafford and be ready to take over in the foreseeable future. There were even stories getting out that the Rams had met with prospects to talk about their potential landing spot in Los Angeles, but in the end none of it really mattered.
The #Rams acquired a 2026 1st-round pick from the #Falcons in last night’s stunning James Pearce trade — a major move that gives LA two first-rounders in what’s expected to be a stronger QB class next year.
Matthew Stafford is 37 and operating on a year-to-year basis. There’s… pic.twitter.com/6Z7pbrRGLG
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 25, 2025
There is plenty of mutual interest between both parties to stick together for the future. The Rams have re-opened their Super Bowl window after two years of stellar drafting by Snead and team and some free agent signings that should make LA one of the biggest contenders in the foreseeable future.
Stafford also expressed never wanting to leave Los Angeles in the first place despite being offered a top-5 QB salary from the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason. If there were any speculation the Stafford wouldn’t be a Ram next year it would have made sense to invest at least a fourth-round pick into a quarterback that was once a consensus first-round pick.
LA could make a play for Arch Manning next year, if he declares, while still contending for a championship. Ideally they would want whatever rookie quarterback they take next year to sit behind Stafford for a year to learn from him instead of thrusting a young signal-caller into action without any NFL experience.
From what we can tell from this year’s draft and these new contract numbers, the Rams plan to have their veteran quarterback for at least the next couple of years.
