Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is seeking more guaranteed money in his contract, a topic that has come up repeatedly during the offseason.
The situation gained additional attention when former Rams quarterback Jared Goff signed a record-setting four-year, $212 million contract extension with the Detroit Lions on May 13, making him the second highest-paid player in the NFL, behind Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals.
As the quarterback market evolves, Stafford understandably wants better compensation. Currently, he is playing under a four-year, $160 million contract that runs through the 2026 season. His $40 million average salary ranks 12th among quarterbacks, on par with Daniel Jones of the New York Giants.
Despite feeling underpaid, Stafford joined the Rams for the start of their OTAs on Monday, with the team sharing on social media that their QB1 was present on the field.
This is noteworthy given the contract standoff between the Super Bowl-winning quarterback and the Rams. Stafford could have chosen to sit out this week to pressure the team but opted not to.
In 2023, Stafford recorded 3,965 passing yards, a 92.5 QB rating, a 62.6% completion rate, a 24-11 TD-INT ratio, and 7.6 yards per attempt. A new deal for Stafford would likely start at $50 million annually, potentially three years at $150 million with $100 million guaranteed.
The goal now is for Stafford and the Rams to agree on a new deal before training camp. If an agreement isn’t reached, Stafford might reconsider his participation, which no one wants to see.
