In the midst of several holdouts occurring across the NFL, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has made it clear that he will not be joining that trend. Stafford addressed the contract changes that were recently made after practice on Wednesday, marking the first time he has directly commented on the situation. During the Rams’ offseason program, Stafford chose not to speak to reporters, making this statement all the more significant.
While Stafford did not provide specifics on the adjustments to his contract, he did express his happiness in playing football for the Rams in Los Angeles. When asked about the possibility of holding out heading into training camp, Stafford remained vague, leaving it unclear if he ever had real plans to do so.
According to ESPN, a team source revealed that Stafford was set to earn a $31 million base salary for the upcoming season as part of the four-year, $160 million deal he signed with the Rams in 2022. However, the contract structure left Stafford vulnerable beyond the 2024 season, with only $15 million of his $27 million salary in 2025 guaranteed and none of the $26 million in 2026. This meant that Stafford could potentially be traded or cut with minimal financial repercussions for the Rams in the future.
Despite a challenging 2022 season marred by injuries, Stafford rebounded in 2023 with impressive numbers, throwing for 3,965 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 15 games. His performance earned him a second Pro Bowl selection, while also assisting rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua in breaking numerous rookie receiving records. With a strong offensive line, the emergence of Nacua and running back Kyren Williams, and a healthy Cooper Kupp, the Rams are optimistic that Stafford has all the tools necessary to showcase why they made a long-term commitment to him.