Matthew Stafford Contract Status

[payote75]

I'm all for keeping Stafford BUT given the rams ability to draft recently especially if the giants give you the 3rd pick plus and you can trade down get a top wide out more picks to learn with puka then have (as I cringe) Rodgers for short term on a more affordable deal you can still then sign Adams (yuck) or I'd go all out use some of the extra funds on Higgins to continue to put the pieces in play for after Rodgers and at 26 probably draft top corner. Having SD that I'd like to keep Stafford but business wise I could see how you could possibly improve a lot of things and stretch the bucks

 

[WestCoastRam]

View: https://x.com/AlexWilsonESM/status/1890147860068401221


Say it with me now... it's all just a negotiation.

Most likely will get done. Not guaranteed.

The house is in escrow basically, we just got to be patient.

 

[Spider2YB]

If the Rams trade Stafford, he is going to get to basically pick the team. If he doesn’t like the Rams trade partner, he retires, and we get nothing in return but a nasty dead cap hit.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

Getting the best pick won’t happen. Stafford has all the leverage. He could just threaten retirement if he doesn’t like the Rams trade partner. He gets to pretty much dictate where the Rams trade him if it comes to that. If he retires, the Rams get nothing in return and they take a nasty dead cap hit. So either they agree on a deal, or Stafford picks his new team and they work out the best deal possible with that team. There aren’t really any other options.

That's not necessarily true at all. He doesn't want to retire at all but saying he dictates where he goes? You should do stand up comedy for that one lol

 

[Spider2YB]

That's not necessarily true at all. He doesn't want to retire at all but saying he dictates where he goes? You should do stand up comedy for that one lol

He could 100% retire. He has the leverage. You don’t know how this works.

 

[Ballhawk]

Why does anyone think that the Rams will get a high pick in a trade? Snead will probably settle for a sixth round pick and a conditional seventh in a year or two.

 

[PhillyRam]

Would it be ok if we went by facts and not speculation?

After the July 2024 restructure, Stafford was essentially paid $40m last year. Which ranks 15th in QB salaries. Link below.

That is a substantial discount. That factual evidence and Kellie's implication that he's willing to take a discount are much stronger than mere speculation that he's not willing to take a discount.

QB Salary Rankings 2024

Does that salary include his bonus paid up front in 22'?

This talk of what he got paid last year is kind of misleading. Patrick Mahomes was paid $18M last year in base salary & roster bonus, if we are leaving out his signing bonus from a few years ago. So I guess he was underpaid as well?

 

[dieterbrock]

It’s most definitely not Stafford. It’s Snead. And plus Stafford *already* took a discount.

Lol.
It’s 100% Stafford.
He already has a contract for the next 2 years. The Rams aren’t the ones who are asking for it to be changed.
A little chronology
2022- Rams win Super Bowl
2022- Rams sign Stafford to huge extension
2022- season is a disaster. Stafford plays terrible, gets hurt misses half the season.
Did Rams want to change his deal then? Nope
Prior to 24, Stafford wants contract changed. They oblige
Now who’s pushing for new/revised/extended contract?

 

[dieterbrock]

If the Rams trade Stafford, he is going to get to basically pick the team. If he doesn’t like the Rams trade partner, he retires, and we get nothing in return but a nasty dead cap hit.

False
Stafford doesn’t have a no trade clause. Rams can trade him wherever they want.
They complete the trade the team that gets him is stuck holding the bag
And Stafford would have to return signing bonus money pro-rated

 

[Spider2YB]

False
Stafford doesn’t have a no trade clause. Rams can trade him wherever they want.
They complete the trade the team that gets him is stuck holding the bag
And Stafford would have to return signing bonus money pro-rated

False. He could just retire.

 

[Merlin]

I like Lawrence but I think if we do that, the Jags are going to view us as a desperate ass team and ask for a lot. Depending on what they ask, could it be worth it? I say yes as long as we don't get fucked over on picks too bad. If the Rams did make that trade, it's obvious that McVay likes Lawrence big time so I'd trust that.

Well provided the Rams open discussions with the Jags before any movement of Stafford, that would mean the Jags are in no position to look at the Rams, who have one of the best starting QBs in this league, as if they are the desperate team. Stafford may only have a couple years left but as of right now his arm still has more than enough zip and he's still as tough as ever mentally.

I think the Rams chances of being in that discussion is compensation. But let's say they move Lawrence to us for Stafford and Kupp and our first round pick. Kupp of course doesn't move the bar really but him and Stafford being together may be attractive. Compare that to the Steelers, who always are a winning team and in the playoffs, giving up two first round picks, and maybe the Rams are in the conversation because the Jags can then use Stafford as their bridge QB and compete while they take a shot on a QB in the draft and start that timer over.

 

[dieterbrock]

False. He could just retire.

If the trade is consummated, the team trading for him loses.
And again, he could have to pay back signing bonus pro-rated, approx 20 million.
See: Jake Plummer

 

[Spider2YB]

False
Stafford doesn’t have a no trade clause. Rams can trade him wherever they want.
They complete the trade the team that gets him is stuck holding the bag
And Stafford would have to return signing bonus money pro-rated

He took a discount and was the 15th highest QB in football last year. He vastly outperformed that figure. He’s been a top 7 QB two straight seasons. He deserves to get paid.

 

[Spider2YB]

If the trade is consummated, the team trading for him loses.
And again, he would have to pay back signing bonus pro-rated, approx 20 million.

Why on Earth would a team trade for him if Stafford’s agent is telling them ahead of time that he won’t play there? He’s made $400M+. You don’t think he’d give back some of his bonus to NOT play in a shitty situation. You are huffing paint!!

 

[dieterbrock]

He took a discount and was the 15th highest QB in football last year. He vastly outperformed that figure. He’s been a top 7 QB two straight seasons. He deserves to get paid.

He was vastly over paid in 2022

 

[Spider2YB]

He was vastly over paid in 2022

So one year out of the 4 he’s been here he was overpaid? And the other 3 he met or exceeded expectations. Do you hear how ridiculous you sound?

 

[El Chapo Jr]

He could 100% retire. He has the leverage. You don’t know how this works.

 

[Merlin]

Saying Stafford can retire and citing it as some nuclear weapon of bargaining power depends upon Stafford actually being willing to retire. He and McVay are probably quite open about shit with one another. So if he is hard up to play and make sure that gold jacket is a done deal the Rams will know that.

Bottom line here is Stafford is the best option for the Rams. No other option is in his class. And the Rams are his best option. He knows the offense, and the roster is very close to being a contender it just needs a few more pieces.

So it'll get done most likely. Unless one of the parties decides to play hardball. Which is possible but it's not ideal for either of them.

 

[Ramlife]

Schefter literally just appeared on a Giants podcast and said the Rams number 1 priority is getting a deal done with Stafford. But he’s also the asshole that put out the tweet about Chad Hall. Hard to know what’s going on right now smh

I fkn hope so damn.. Stafford is a stud. We need him! Period.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

Saying Stafford can retire and citing it as some nuclear weapon of bargaining power depends upon Stafford actually being willing to retire. He and McVay are probably quite open about shit with one another. So if he is hard up to play and make sure that gold jacket is a done deal the Rams will know that.

Bottom line here is Stafford is the best option for the Rams. No other option is in his class. And the Rams are his best option. He knows the offense, and the roster is very close to being a contender it just needs a few more pieces.

So it'll get done most likely. Unless one of the parties decides to play hardball. Which is possible but it's not ideal for either of them.

Yeah I find the threat of retiring beyond ridiculous. Is Stafford the best option? Of course he is BUT thats depends on what he wants in a contract. If it cripples the Rams ability to sign future young players to a 2nd contract, it is definitely worth weighing it out. Anyone just saying pay him is oblivious to that fact. A good FO always determines the immediate and future impact of a contract decision, especially when it involves a player that is much closer to retirement than not.