Senior national columnist Judy Battista and chief national reporter Steve Wyche discuss the Los Angeles Rams salary cap space and needs this offseason ahead of the 2026 NFL season.
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All right, let’s bring back our Steve Wyche to join me.
All right, let’s bring back our Steve Wyche to join me.
I am Judy Battista.
I am Judy Battista.
Steve, let’s talk about what we just heard Sean McVay talk about.
Steve, let’s talk about what we just heard Sean McVay talk about.
He said they’ve had good conversations with Matthew Stafford about a contract.
He said they’ve had good conversations with Matthew Stafford about a contract.
What do you expect the future holds for Stafford?
What do you expect the future holds for Stafford?
First off, Matthew Stafford might be the cherry on top at the business of getting contract extensions.
First off, Matthew Stafford might be the cherry on top at the business of getting contract extensions.
He is owed 40 million on his current contract right now.
He is owed 40 million on his current contract right now.
That number’s gonna go up.
That number’s gonna go up.
That $40 million a year does not put him in the top 10.
That $40 million a year does not put him in the top 10.
As you just mentioned, Judy, he is the most valuable player of the league.
As you just mentioned, Judy, he is the most valuable player of the league.
But what the Rams tend to do, and as McVay and General Manager Les Snead said, said today, they take care of other business first.
But what the Rams tend to do, and as McVay and General Manager Les Snead said, said today, they take care of other business first.
When they do extensions with players under contract, that almost always comes near training camp, so you can expect Matthew Stafford to get some type of bump or ex- multi-year extension, even though they say it’s year to year, something they can get out of after the 2026 season, sometime near training camp.
When they do extensions with players under contract, that almost always comes near training camp, so you can expect Matthew Stafford to get some type of bump or ex- multi-year extension, even though they say it’s year to year, something they can get out of after the 2026 season, sometime near training camp.
But that number is going to go up from that 40 million.
But that number is going to go up from that 40 million.
Now, what I just said dovetails into Davante Adams.
Now, what I just said dovetails into Davante Adams.
He also is under contract.
He also is under contract.
Sean McVay said they expect him to be back in the second year of his deal and to be even better.
Sean McVay said they expect him to be back in the second year of his deal and to be even better.
But if there is gonna be a contract adjustment or extension, that will happen a little bit later on.
But if there is gonna be a contract adjustment or extension, that will happen a little bit later on.
Now, in going to some of the other players, you know, the free agents that they talked about, safety Cam Curl is a player Sean McVay brought up specifically.
Now, in going to some of the other players, you know, the free agents that they talked about, safety Cam Curl is a player Sean McVay brought up specifically.
Now, they’ve already extended to fellow safety Quinton Lake, and the Rams tend not to pay a lot to that possession- position, but Cam Curl is a player that they like and they also s- both Snead and Sean McVay said they play two different roles, so signing two safeties to extensions should not be a problem.
Now, they’ve already extended to fellow safety Quinton Lake, and the Rams tend not to pay a lot to that possession- position, but Cam Curl is a player that they like and they also s- both Snead and Sean McVay said they play two different roles, so signing two safeties to extensions should not be a problem.
Well, that brings us to our next question.
Well, that brings us to our next question.
Of course, the Rams were oh so close this season.
Of course, the Rams were oh so close this season.
Every team has needs.
Every team has needs.
We’re about to start free agency.
We’re about to start free agency.
The draft is coming up.
The draft is coming up.
What are their biggest needs going into this off-season?
What are their biggest needs going into this off-season?
Well, the, the biggest needs are quar- their cornerback situation.
Well, the, the biggest needs are quar- their cornerback situation.
They’ve got four of their own, starting with, Kobe Durant, who are free agents right now, leaving them with just three cornerbacks on the roster, but they also wanna improve that position as well.
They’ve got four of their own, starting with, Kobe Durant, who are free agents right now, leaving them with just three cornerbacks on the roster, but they also wanna improve that position as well.
So do they go into free agency and do that?
So do they go into free agency and do that?
Do they s- re-sign somebody like Kobe Durant, or do they go into the draft?
Do they s- re-sign somebody like Kobe Durant, or do they go into the draft?
Remember, Judy, they’ve got the 13th and the 29th overall draft picks, and we know Les Snead loves to maneuver on draft day in terms of trades.
Remember, Judy, they’ve got the 13th and the 29th overall draft picks, and we know Les Snead loves to maneuver on draft day in terms of trades.
So that is the key position, but they also could fortify their offensive line.
So that is the key position, but they also could fortify their offensive line.
Most teams actually could.
Most teams actually could.
But that corner and the offensive line, adding depth right there, be it free agency, be it the draft, is something that the Rams actually could do.
But that corner and the offensive line, adding depth right there, be it free agency, be it the draft, is something that the Rams actually could do.
And let’s also look at the Rams’ history.
And let’s also look at the Rams’ history.
They’re not afraid to make in-season trades to upgrade positions, especially in the secondary.
They’re not afraid to make in-season trades to upgrade positions, especially in the secondary.
Think about what they did when acquiring Marcus Peters and Jalen Ramsey in the past.
Think about what they did when acquiring Marcus Peters and Jalen Ramsey in the past.
Les Snead is not afraid.
Les Snead is not afraid.
Neither is Steve Wyche.
Neither is Steve Wyche.
Steve, thank you very much.
Steve, thank you very much.