IMO Hamlin's injury has probably changed Stafford's future

[oldnotdead]

After Hamlin's injury, I'm even more convinced 2023 will be Stafford's last season. You have to know that the effect that Hamlin has had on Kelly is immense. It brought home to both Kelley and Matt how dangerous the NFL really is. Matt dodged a bullet he has to know that. I would be shocked if Matt decides he wants to continue beyond 2023.

That said, the decision is ultimately with Snead and McVay, not Stafford. Contractually they must play him this year. But from 2004 onwards they can eat the dead cap in the same way they did with Gurley and Goff. They have the likely successor to Stafford on the roster right now in Mayfield. They can't afford to let him leave the building. IMO they won't. If they offer Baker a deal to stay with a promise that he's the starter in 2024 there is no way he leaves.

I think we know if the Rams sign Baker to a 2 or 3 year deal. The first year as a backup and the remaining year or years on a prove it level.

I love Stafford but the reality is that his time here in LA was always limited. Unless he was uninjured and winning Super Bowls I think he would have been replaced after 2025 anyway. That is reflected in his contract structure which he agreed to. This way the Rams will follow their pattern of being proactive as it was with Gurley, Goff and even this year with Akers.

So IMO we as fans need to get used to Baker as the QB of the future. I for one am don't think this could have worked out better. Mayfield didn't cost the Rams anything, he literally fell in their laps. Then add to the equation that McVay seems to love him as his QB is the decisive element. Baker has proved he can win with backup WRs and OL what more can you ask?

The best part of this scenario is that Baker Mayfield will insure that McVay stays with the Rams for several more years.

 

[Tano]

They could give Baker a good contract with the heavy brunt of the contract hitting the Rams in 2024 and beyond by giving him a large signing bonus that they could prorate over the years.

 

[Ram_Rally]

Are we gonna be pessimistic about Stafford for the next 4 seasons? Everyone was convinced he was retiring from concussions. Then it was his spine. Kelly Stafford said that despite her telling people he wasn't retiring, Stafford had to come on the podcast and confirm himself. Now we've moved onto someone else's injury being the thing that retires Stafford.

 

[Loyal]

Yeah, we don't know shyte right now, except that Stafford says he's playing.

The End.

 

[Riverumbbq]

It may not be a pleasant conversation, but at some point McSnead & Stafford must sit down to discuss just what Staff and Kelly have in mind for his future, ... and the sooner the better. If Snead and McVay really like the future potential of Mayfield, it would be a terrible thing to let him get away.
I don't want to spend money on outside free agents anyway this next year, so keeping Mayfield, one of Gaines/A'Shawn & bringing back Gay have moved to the top of my re-sign list.
jmo.

 

[Allen2McVay]

OldNotDead has convinced me that Rob Havenstein will play for the Rams until he is 50 years old.

 

[Angry Ram]

Do people really worry about this so much? Like cross that bridge when we get there.

 

[bubbaramfan]

Matt and Kelly have known for 12plus years the risks of his job. Hamlin's injury not gonna make any difference on how long he plays. How healthy he stays will. Matt says he's feeling the best he's felt in years and will be ready for next season. As for Mayfield, some desperate owner will throw a bucket of money at him and he'll jump all over it, not giving a damn how it will affect his career. He thinks he's a starter and will jump at the chance.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Do people really worry about this so much? Like cross that bridge when we get there.

Don’t call @Angry Ram for retirement advice.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Do people really worry about this so much? Like cross that bridge when we get there.

After this coming Sunday's game we will have reached the Mayfield bridge.

 

[Zodi]

Are we gonna be pessimistic about Stafford for the next 4 seasons? Everyone was convinced he was retiring from concussions. Then it was his spine. Kelly Stafford said that despite her telling people he wasn't retiring, Stafford had to come on the podcast and confirm himself. Now we've moved onto someone else's injury being the thing that retires Stafford.

There was zero hesitation, too.

 

[Malibu]

Matt and Kelly have known for 12plus years the risks of his job. Hamlin's injury not gonna make any difference on how long he plays. How healthy he stays will. Matt says he's feeling the best he's felt in years and will be ready for next season. As for Mayfield, some desperate owner will throw a bucket of money at him and he'll jump all over it, not giving a damn how it will affect his career. He thinks he's a starter and will jump at the chance.

I totally agree. Hamlin was a super freak accident. Stafford tried to work through a embarrassing bad OL which eventually got him hurt. Most likely that won't happen next year. I bet Snead and McVay really focus in the off-season on upgrading the OL so Stafford doesn't take the pounding he did this year. They learned an invaluable lesson that I am sure they will take to heart. Our best OL years were 2017/2018 and 2021 the common denominator was Whit. So let's get a Whit level LT. I suggest a thread I created on another site suggesting Orlando Brown or Larry Tunsil fits that and both are younger and a level up from Whit. I am sure we can find better than Noteboom, Jackson, Acuri, Edwards, or Nsehke. Those were experiments we need serious solutions.

 

[Malibu]

In terms of Mayfield he is not going to be a Ram next year. It makes zero sense for him. He is in his prime earning potential.

There is a ton of teams that need a QB or potentially need one. Tenn, Indy, TB, ATL, NO, Houston, Las Vegas, Washington, Carolina.

The maybes - Seattle, Miami, Giants, Jets, NE, Baltimore if Lamar leaves.

That is 15 potential teams clearly some teams will keep what they have. But that is a ton of places where Mayfield can go and START.

There are not many good options in terms of QBs available and how many are better than Mayfield only - Brady maybe, Rodgers/Lamar are longshots, Darnold, Carr, and 2-3 draftees (Young & Stroud) none to me are ready to start.

 

[Angry Ram]

After this coming Sunday's game we will have reached the Mayfield bridge.

Gonna be one long damn entrance then.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Gonna be one long damn entrance then.

The importance for McSnead to sit down with Stafford & Kelly can not be said enough, this could potentially impact both the trajectory of our team and Mayfield's future. Stafford will have only played in 9 games this season, for those of you wishing to go all-in on a deep play-off run in 2023, does this also mean upgrading our back-up QB, finding an expensive reserve QB in free agency that messes with our future comp picks, or do we roll with Wolford & Perkins again ?
Re-signing Mayfield long-term gets us a discount on his 2023 CAP, although 2024/25 would be pretty expensive. I don't want to push Stafford into a corner, but he's already made close to half a $Billion in salary & endorsements during his career, so if he's had discussions with Kelly about when/how he might bow out, it's only fair that McSnead be kept in the loop.
jmo.

 

[ReekofRams]

If I were to bet against oldnotdead every time he predicted something I would be rich man. If I bet at least one dollar.

 

[ArkyRamsFan]

Matt and Kelly have known for 12plus years the risks of his job. Hamlin's injury not gonna make any difference on how long he plays. How healthy he stays will. Matt says he's feeling the best he's felt in years and will be ready for next season. As for Mayfield, some desperate owner will throw a bucket of money at him and he'll jump all over it, not giving a damn how it will affect his career. He thinks he's a starter and will jump at the chance.

^^^^^THIS!!!!^^^^

~ArkyRamsFan~

 

[Ram_Rally]

There was zero hesitation, too.

Yeah didn't sound like a guy who is considering retiring anytime soon.

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

I totally agree. Hamlin was a super freak accident. Stafford tried to work through a embarrassing bad OL which eventually got him hurt. Most likely that won't happen next year. I bet Snead and McVay really focus in the off-season on upgrading the OL so Stafford doesn't take the pounding he did this year. They learned an invaluable lesson that I am sure they will take to heart.

I really hope they connect those two planet-sized dots this off-season.

 

[OldSchool]

A freak accident that has happened exactly once isn't likely to move the needle. They could still be discussing retirement already regardless of what was said on her podcast. Nobody knows what will happen.