Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford carved out a very productive 2024 season. He started all but one of the team’s 17 contests and totaled 3,762 passing yards as well as 20 passing touchdowns compared to only eight interceptions.
What’s more, the Rams had a 10-6 record with Stafford as their starting signal-caller and managed to qualify for the playoffs.
But Stafford’s future in Los Angeles now seems to be up in the air, and despite reports that the organization wants to keep him around, its asking price for the 37-year-old is believed to be a first-round draft pick.
“With the Rams making former All-Pro wideout Cooper Kupp available via trade, their starting quarterback will be, in many ways, the key domino to fall this offseason — and certainly in the NFC,” Jordan Schultz wrote. “While uncertainty remains surrounding Matthew Stafford’s future with the team, league sources are adamant that coach Sean McVay and the organization want to keep the 37-year-old Super Bowl champion. Remember, trading Stafford ensures a $45.3 million dead cap hit in 2025 and nearly $23 million in 2026. Stafford, who is scheduled to make under $30 million this upcoming season, is seeking a new contract with future guarantees that will pay him closer to the league’s top 10 quarterbacks.
“Several teams, per league sources, have called L.A. about Stafford and the belief is a first-round pick would probably be the asking price should the Rams choose to make a deal. Again, the Rams want him back (he also carries a $49.3 million cap hit if released) and there’s been nothing to this point that would suggest Stafford doesn’t want to play for them, but this is undoubtedly one of the biggest storylines heading into free agency next month. Before then, the Rams and Stafford’s agent are planning to meet in Indianapolis to see if they can find common ground.”
Before joining Los Angeles, Stafford spent the first 10-plus campaigns of his NFL career with the Detroit Lions franchise. During his time in Detroit, he led the NFL in total passing attempts twice and passes completed once.
Stafford has spent each of the last four seasons as a member of the Rams and won a ring earlier on in his tenure with the team. In his inaugural season with the Rams, he led Los Angeles to a 12-5 record and a victory over quarterback Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl.
However, ever since Stafford helped the Rams to a championship several seasons back, the team has experienced little playoff season with the quarterback in the fold.
The only playoff victory Los Angeles has earned since then came when the team beat the Minnesota Vikings by a final score of 27-9 earlier in the year 2025 on Jan. 13. Stafford played a hand in that victory, as he totaled 209 passing yards and two passing touchdowns without throwing an interception.
Stafford’s stint in Los Angeles has seemingly been defined by ups and downs, as the Rams had a 3-6 record with him as their starting quarterback just one season after he was key in their Super Bowl run. But for all that’s gone awry in his stint, he’s still helped the Rams be a perennial playoff team in recent years.
Perhaps soon, fans of the Rams will have more clarity regarding Stafford’s chances of getting dealt in the near future. His name is certainly one to keep an eye out for.
