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Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford #9 takes the field before a game against the Detroit Lions.
Matthew Stafford put retirement rumors to bed, but he and the Los Angeles Rams still have matters to tend to this offseason.
Stafford and the Rams resolved a 2025 offseason trial period during which the team allowed the QB’s camp to gauge his value on the trade market before the two sides agreed and revised the final two years of his four-year, $160 million contract into a two-year, $84 million pact.
By several outside accounts, Stafford will seek another adjustment to his contract this spring.
Matthew Stafford Contract Situation Looms Large for Rams
GettyMatthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams walks on the field after losing to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game.
Stafford, 38, is coming off an MVP season, leading the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns during the regular season. He also had a strong postseason, putting him in a strong position during potential renegotiation talks.
Former sports agent Joel Corry noted that the public announcement of his return could be a limiting factor for the QB, but still expects Stafford to seek new money.
Length is a question. Still, it is quite apparent that Stafford would be justified in seeking a raise.
“There are 11 quarterbacks scheduled to make more in 2026 than Stafford’s $40 million. Six of the 11 are making over $50 million,” the now-analyst for CBS Sports wrote in an article on February 12. “Green Bay Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons is the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback at $46.5 million per year.”
Corry noted the Rams would need to add “more than $9 million” to Stafford’s 2026 salary just to top Parsons’ deal, given how the QB’s contract has been structured to this point.
An extension could “eliminate some potential headaches,” but it would still be costly.
“Given the way the 120% of prior year’s salary provisions operate for franchise tags, it would cost the Rams $57.92 million to use the designation on Stafford in 2027 if he played the 2026 season under his existing contract,” Corry wrote.
“The $97.92 million Stafford would make over the next two years with the Rams going this route could be used as a general framework for a contract running through the 2027 season.”
Stafford could top Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott as the highest-paid player.
Matthew Stafford Made NFL History in 2025
GettyMatthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams and the AP NFL Most Valuable Player looks on during the 15th Annual NFL Honors.
Corry noted the uncertainty around Stafford and the Rams’ plans, partly due to the QB’s current career earnings, which stand at $408 million, per Over The Cap.
That is a reality that occurred this past season.
Stafford began the campaign behind Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers spent the 2025 season on a one-year, $13.5 million deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Rodgers, a four-time MVP, is at $395.8 million in career earnings.
Prescott is at $295.4 million and ranks seventh all-time entering the 2026 offseason. Atlanta Falcons QB Kirk Cousins is the closest active passer to Stafford at $321.4 million.
Cousins is in a similar phase of his career as Rodgers.
Both players can still help teams and even be the reason behind wins on occasion. But they are clearly toward the end of their respective careers. Stafford, meanwhile, shook off an offseason back injury to put together a historic campaign.
Stafford and the Rams celebrated his winning MVP, which gave him another bargaining chip. However, they are also focused on getting to and winning another Super Bowl.
In that sense, taking the most he can get could work against Stafford and the Rams.
Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter
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