Matthew Stafford was never going to leave the Rams, and it seems the Rams were aware of that all along.
Typically, NFL players sign only two or three contracts in their career, but some, like Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, manage to secure a few more.
NFL teams sign hundreds of players over the years. They know the markets, understand the precedents, and most importantly, they know their players.
It now appears that Stafford was never truly leaving the Rams, and his meetings with the Raiders and Giants were likely a tactic to get the Rams to increase his pay for 2025. The Rams were probably aware of this.
This could explain why the team allowed him to explore other options. If the Rams assessed that Stafford wasn’t going to leave for a team with a weaker roster, why not let him have those talks? The Rams can appear generous and magnanimous. If you love something, set it free.
It’s easier to let it go when you know it won’t actually leave.
While we don’t know the exact offers from the Raiders and Giants, it’s believed both teams were offering a two-year, $100 million deal. Rams coach Sean McVay’s comments on Monday made it clear that Stafford’s deal is for just one year, with his future to be decided next year.
“Last year, it took about seven months,” McVay told reporters. “This year, it took about three weeks. Maybe next year it’ll be just two or three days if we have to do this again.”
Last year, Stafford didn’t see much of an adjustment to his contract. This year, it’s estimated the Rams were originally prepared to increase his pay from $27 million to around $36 million — and ultimately moved to $40 million after Stafford attracted interest from other teams.
The Rams held firm at a much lower amount than Stafford could have earned elsewhere. There’s a good chance they knew he’d accept it.
We’ll update with the final numbers once they are confirmed. Although Stafford has played well enough to deserve a starting salary beginning with a 5, it’s likely to be a 4.
And it might end up being right at $40 million for one year, with the following year still to be determined.