It sure is a good time to be a quarterback — or one’s agent, for that matter.
A common theme so far during the 2022 NFL free agency period has been a great deal of investment (wise or not) in the signal-caller position.
The latest passer to sign a major extension is the quarterback for the reigning Super Bowl-champion Los Angeles Rams, Matthew Stafford. The Rams acquired Stafford from Detroit last offseason looking to capitalize on a championship window, and he delivered.
It seems Stafford will be sticking around in sunny Southern California for the long haul, as he signed a four-year extension with the Rams worth up to $160 million with $135 million guaranteed. The news was first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Rams, QB Matthew Stafford agree to a 4-year $160M extension. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/JGCEXGKr9z
— NFL (@NFL) March 19, 2022
The 13-year NFL veteran had never won a playoff game heading into the 2021 season, but he guided the Rams to a 12-5 season in 2021 while tying his career-high with 41 touchdowns and setting a franchise record with 4,886 passing yards. He did, however, tie for the league-lead with 17 interceptions.
He’s one of several prominent quarterbacks in the lead to land a pricey deal this offseason.
Aaron Rodgers signed a behemoth three-year contract that will send him an average north of $50 million — just in time for the Packers to trade his top receiving target in Davante Adams. Meanwhile, Kirk Cousins is sticking around in Minnesota after signing a one-year, $35 million extension with the Vikings.
There’s also the record-setting five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract Deshaun Watson landed in Cleveland (despite the former Houston Texans quarterback facing 22 civil sexual assault and harassment lawsuits).
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Stafford’s deal is structured in a way that provides the Rams some financial relief in the short term for their dwindling cap space.
As Schefter notes, considering he’s at the top of his game and just 34 — four years younger than Rodgers — he almost certainly took less money than he would have seen on the open market to come back to Los Angeles, though an average of $40 million is nothing to scoff at.
The Rams already lost one key piece this offseason in Von Miller, but they signed a receiver in Allen Robinson and are reportedly looking to retain another in Odell Beckham Jr. (a feat which will be made easier by Stafford’s new deal).
It seems they could also have the quarterback who took them to the promised land around for the rest of his career.
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