Tag: Matthew Stafford

Report: Matthew Stafford wants ‘more guaranteed money past this year’

A contract situation could be developing between Matthew Stafford and the Rams this offseason

Matthew Stafford showed in 2023 that he still has a lot left in the tank at the age of 35, throwing for nearly 4,000 yards and 24 touchdowns in 15 games. His play is what carried the Rams to the playoffs and he’s the reason they could be Super Bowl contenders in 2024, which has him wanting more from the team.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network said on Thursday night during the draft broadcast that Stafford wants his contract adjusted to give him more guaranteed money beyond the 2024 season.

“My understanding is Matthew Stafford, while he has been in the building, does want an adjustment on his contract, does want more guaranteed money past this year,” Rapoport said, as transcribed by Bleacher Report. “He believes he has a lot left. A little bit of a lingering issue this offseason for the Rams.”

This is both good news and bad news for the Rams. The good news is it shows Stafford is committed to playing several more seasons. The bad news is his contract is already expensive, with cap hits of $50.5 million and $49.5 million in 2025 and 2026, respectively.

Stafford wants more guaranteed money because he has zero guaranteed salary left after the 2024 season, which would make it a bit easier for Los Angeles to move on if the team wanted to.

Les Snead suggests Rams won’t draft QB early, focused on building around Matthew Stafford

Les Snead said on NFL Network Thursday that the Rams are focused on building around Matthew Stafford, not necessarily drafting his replacement

The Los Angeles Rams are looking to trade up in the first round of the draft, potentially all the way into the top 10. General manager Les Snead was on NFL Network mere hours before the first round is set to begin and his comments suggest the Rams won’t be targeting a quarterback early in the draft.

When asked about Matthew Stafford’s future and the Rams’ possibility of drafting a quarterback to be his eventual replacement, Snead was candid in saying the team is focused on building around Stafford, an indication that they will pass on the top quarterbacks in Round 1.

“I’ll be frank with you. Matthew Stafford is right now in a really, really good prime,” Snead said. “I think our focus is on continuing to help build a team around him, take advantage of his time, his reign as our QB and then we’ll kind of figure out next steps then. But right now, it’s really, let’s focus on Matthew Stafford, what he’s good at and try to help him and the rest of his teammates win games.”

Given the team’s aggressive moves in free agency, the Rams clearly view themselves as a team that can win a championship now, especially after making the playoffs in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year in 2023. Drafting a player who can contribute right away at either wide receiver, edge rusher or possibly even offensive tackle makes more sense than taking a quarterback who’s certain to sit for at least a year or two.

And based on a new report from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Rams are not targeting a quarterback in a trade into the top 10.

How to watch the premiere of Matthew Stafford’s documentary Thursday night

Matthew Stafford has a new documentary releasing Thursday and it looks fantastic. Here’s how you can watch it.

Matthew Stafford is a pretty private person by NFL quarterback standards, rarely giving the public a glimpse into his personal life off the field. This is a guy who just joined Instagram less than two years ago and has a grand total of nine posts on his account since then.

On Thursday night, the world will get to see another side of Stafford in a new documentary titled “Locked In.” The film goes through the end of the Rams’ 2023 season, including their playoff game against the Lions – Stafford’s first time playing in Detroit since being traded in 2021.

“Locked In” will premiere on NFL Network on Thursday, April 18 at 8 p.m. ET. It will also re-air on April 19 at 12 a.m. ET and will be streamed online. Here’s how to watch it.

Air date: April 18, 8 p.m. ET

Runtime: 43 minutes

TV channel: NFL Network

Streaming online: TheRams.com and YouTube

Watch the trailer for the documentary below.

Rams ‘badly wanted’ Sam Howell before Commanders traded him to the Seahawks

Sean McVay reportedly wanted Sam Howell before he was traded to the Seahawks.

For about 10 weeks last fall, Washington Commanders’ fans believed they’d found a franchise quarterback. Despite the chaos around him, Sam Howell had some impressive moments throughout the first half of last season.

Unfortunately for Howell and Washington, it all came crashing down as the Commanders lost their final eight games.

Some of it was Howell’s fault, some was due to the talent around him, and a lot of it was coaching. When you add it all together, it meant big changes were in store for the Commanders.

After firing Ron Rivera, Washington hired Adam Peters as the new general manager, and the changes began. The Commanders hired Dan Quinn as head coach and were busy during the early stages of free agency upgrading the roster. Washington traded Howell to the Seattle Seahawks during that first week of free agency. In return, the Commanders swapped multiple draft picks, including landing Seattle’s third-round pick (No. 78 overall).

Seattle GM John Schneider was relieved to come away with Howell, admitting multiple teams were in contention for the 2022 fifth-round pick.

We’ve now learned the Los Angeles Rams were one of those teams.

In an appearance on the PuckSports podcast, NFL Network’s Mike Garofolo revealed that the Rams badly wanted Howell behind Matthew Stafford.

“They [Seattle Seahawks] outbid the Rams, who I know that there was a strong feeling from the Rams coaching staff that they wanted Sam Howell badly,” Garofolo said.

“They really liked him, so the Seahawks were able to outbid them. So that’s good. You got him. You also kept him away from a team that really could have used him as a potential successor there.”

Rams head coach Sean McVay wanted Howell, which should tell you something. Also, the Denver Broncos were reportedly among the teams interested in Sam Howell. Regardless of what you think of his work in Denver last year, Sean Payton is a future Hall of Fame head coach.

That’s two of the NFL’s premier offensive minds wanting to work with Howell.

There were hot takes from a segment of Washington’s fan base that said Howell couldn’t play. McVay, Payton and Schneider all wanted Howell. He can play. Whether it’s as a long-term starter or a high-end backup, Howell will be in the NFL for a long time.

With Stafford entering his 16th NFL season in 2024, perhaps McVay viewed Howell as the potential heir apparent.

Former Eagles’ QB Carson Wentz agrees to a 1-year deal with the Chiefs

Former Eagles QB Carson Wentz signing with Kansas City Chiefs to be the primary backup to Patrick Mahomes

After waiting until ten weeks into the 2023 regular season, quarterback Carson Wentz returned to the NFL and joined the Los Angeles Rams.

Wentz didn’t have to wait long this off-season, and according to Adam Schefter, he is signing a one-year deal with the defending Super Bowl champion, Kansas City Chiefs.

Wentz, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2016 NFL draft, spent five controversial seasons in Philadelphia, even earning a contract extension before eventually being traded to Indianapolis.

After a late-season collapse with the Colts in 2021, Wentz was traded to the Commanders.

He went 2-5 in seven games as Washington’s starter in the 2022 season, throwing for 1,755 yards, 11 touchdowns, and nine picks.

Wentz spent one season in Washington before being released ahead of a $26 million cap hit for 2023.

Wentz, 31, started the Rams’ regular-season finale against the San Francisco 49ers, completing 17 of 24 passes for 163 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

In eight NFL seasons, Wentz has completed 62.7% of his passes for 22,292 yards, 153 touchdowns and 67 interceptions.

Colin Cowherd could ‘totally see’ Rams taking Bo Nix at No. 19

Colin Cowherd wouldn’t be surprised if the Rams take Bo Nix in Round 1 and have him sit behind Matthew Stafford for 2 years

The 2024 NFL draft is just a few weeks away and it’s anyone’s guess as to which position the Los Angeles Rams will target with their first-round pick. Edge rusher, defensive tackle, cornerback and offensive tackle are all possibilities, but we still can’t rule out quarterback – even after the team drafted Stetson Bennett last year and signed Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason.

Of course, the Rams won’t be in the mix for the top three quarterbacks (Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye), but there could be as many as six passers going in the first round. Might Los Angeles consider taking one of J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix or Michael Penix Jr.?

Colin Cowherd could see them drafting Nix at No. 19 overall and having him sit for two years behind Matthew Stafford. Cowherd isn’t reporting any inside info, but simply sharing his opinion of what the Rams might do in Round 1.

“The Rams are a sleeper for a lot of people,” he said. “They’re one of those teams that has been very successful without first-round picks. This is their first first-rounder in a long time, and they’re at 19. I can see the Rams sliding down if Bo Nix is there. I’ve been in a war room before and you start going, ‘Well, the next four teams don’t need quarterbacks.’ At 19, you’re getting into, like, Dallas may (take a quarterback), but they need some pieces. I can see the Rams going and saying, We’re going to take Bo Nix and he’s going to sit for two years.’ I could totally see that happening.

“I think the Rams would roll the dice on Bo Nix because the Stetson Bennett (pick) didn’t work. Stafford feels like he’s hurt at least once to twice a year. That one’s interesting.”

Nix would seem like a pretty good fit in Sean McVay’s offense. He gets the ball out quickly, is accurate on short and intermediate throws and he has enough mobility to extend plays when his initial reads aren’t there.

He’s still a limited passer and didn’t throw down the field much at all with the Ducks, so there are questions about his deep throwing ability and overall arm talent. But that’s why he’s not in the top tier of quarterbacks in this class, and it could get him drafted in the second round instead of the first.

As possible as it is that the Rams will take a quarterback at No. 19, that feels a bit early for them to select Nix, especially if there’s a high-end pass rusher.

Jonah Jackson explains why he called Matthew Stafford the ‘Wizard’ in Detroit

New Rams LG Jonah Jackson played with Matthew Stafford in 2020 and used to call him “The Wizard”

Jonah Jackson is new to the Los Angeles Rams, but he’s not new to blocking for Matthew Stafford. He played one season with Stafford in 2020 when he was a rookie, starting all 16 games at left guard during the quarterback’s final year in Detroit.

He’ll once again block for Stafford in 2024 after signing a three-year deal with the Rams and he’s thrilled about it. Having seen firsthand what Stafford can do, Jackson is excited about reuniting with a player he called the “Wizard” in Detroit.

During his introductory press conference, Jackson explained how Stafford earned his “wizard” nickname in 2020.

“In Detroit, we called him the ‘Wizard,’” Jackson said. “He could figure it all out and he can make anything happen. I’m excited to be able to protect him and let him make us look good and make plays happen.”

Stafford does have a knack for making plays that don’t always seem to be there, whether it’s by dropping his arm angle and firing a sidearm bullet or stepping up in the pocket and launching a pass deep down the field.

He’s been fantastic at doing both of those in his three years with the Rams but he might have his best offensive line yet in 2024 with Jackson, Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson blocking for him on the interior.

Rams have 2nd-most expensive offense, least expensive defense in NFL

The Rams are spending the 2nd-most of any team on offense, but their defense is by far the least expensive in the NFL

Though the Los Angeles Rams aren’t done signing players this offseason, there’s a massive discrepancy between the offense and defense in terms of cost. There was a wide gap last year, too, when the Rams spent the least amount of money on their defense, but there’s an even larger difference in spending this year.

Using numbers from Over The Cap, Warren Sharp listed how much each team is spending on offense in 2024 and the Rams were second, having allocated $178.1 million on that side of the ball as of now.

Only the Browns ($188.8 million) are spending more on offense than the Rams, while the Steelers ($64.8 million) are spending the least.

On the flip side, no team in the NFL is spending less on defense than the Rams. According to Over The Cap, the Rams are only spending $55.9 million on defensive players in 2024, which is $14.4 million less than every other team in the league.

The Steelers are spending the most on their defense at $160.3 million, so they’re first in defensive spending and 32nd in offensive spending – the polar opposite of the Rams.

Surprisingly, the Rams have the fourth-most expensive tight end group ($20.4M) in the NFL after signing Tyler Higbee to an extension last year and bringing in Colby Parkinson this offseason. Their offensive line is also the fifth-most expensive ($64.9 million) after giving three-year contracts to Jonah Jackson and Kevin Dotson.

It’s an unorthodox way to construct a roster, spending so much on one side of the ball compared to the other, but the Rams made the playoffs with this strategy last season and they could go even further in 2024.

Former NFL quarterback: Drake Maye is as good as any quarterback he’s ever evaluated

Hasselbeck believes Maye is as good of a prospect as Matthew Stafford and Andrew Luck was.

It seems like every day, someone comes up with a reason why North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye is behind Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels ahead of the 2024 NFL draft.

Is it prospect fatigue? If you watch Maye, you can clearly see the tools, such as his size, arm strength, and athleticism. You can also see the areas that need some work, such as his mechanics and footwork. But fortunately for whoever drafts Maye, those are the easiest things to fix.

The Minnesota Vikings are believed to covet Maye. However, they have no shot at him at No. 11. The Vikings did acquire another first-round pick in hopes of moving up to land a franchise quarterback, be it Maye or someone else.

The truth about Maye is this: He will go no lower than No. 3 overall to the New England Patriots in next month’s draft. And there’s a good chance he goes No. 2 to the Washington Commanders.

Speaking of Washington, Tim Hasselbeck, who works as an ESPN analyst, spent two seasons with the then-Redskins in the early 2000s. He was a guest on “The Gresh and Fauria Show” on WEEI, where he discussed Maye.

“[I’ve] been at ESPN for 15 years evaluating quarterbacks as they come out for the draft,” Hasselbeck said via Mike Kadlick of Audacy. “I think he’s as good of a prospect as I have evaluated in this entire time. So, you know, from the Matthew Staffords to the Matt Ryans to you name ’em over that stretch—Andrew Luck … I think that he’s that good of a prospect.”

That’s a pretty high bar.

Hasselbeck wasn’t finished heaping praise on Maye.

“I think when people go through the process with Drake Maye,” Hasselbeck said. “There is almost nothing to not like about him. Now, he’s a really big guy, so if you’ve got really picky, could you say, ‘Hey, I’d like his delivery to be a little more compact’? Yeah, absolutely, you could say that… I think that when I look at him, I think he’s going to be a better pro than college player; I think athletically, physically, mentally — like athletically he’s going to be on par with the best.”

Opinions have been all over the place on Maye. But there is always one prospect — usually a quarterback — who deals with this overanalysis every year. Last year, it was Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud. How did Stroud turn out?

No one is saying Maye will replicate Stroud’s success, but some of the talk about Maye being overrated just needs to stop. He’s an elite prospect. If Caleb Williams wasn’t in this draft, Maye — not Jayden Daniels — would be the consensus favorite to go No. 1 overall.

Rams signing Jimmy Garoppolo is smart with Stetson Bennett’s future in doubt

The Rams are wise to invest in a reliable backup QB behind Matthew Stafford with Stetson Bennett’s future in doubt

The Los Angeles Rams tried to invest in the backup quarterback position last year by drafting Stetson Bennett in the fourth round, a decision that has yet to pan out. Bennett spent his rookie year on the non-football illness list for an undisclosed reason, remaining away from the team from September on.

We still don’t know why Bennett was suddenly out of football, but one thing is clear: The Rams don’t exactly trust him to get back on track anytime soon. That was made obvious by Sean McVay and Les Snead, who both said this offseason that they don’t know if Bennett will return in 2024 and that they’re acting as if they don’t have a QB on the roster behind Matthew Stafford.

Well, they do now after agreeing to a one-year deal with Jimmy Garoppolo on Friday – ironically, on the same day that Aaron Donald retired after 10 seasons. Rams fans may not like Garoppolo much, whether it’s because of his low ceiling as a passer or the fact that he’s 8-0 against their team in his regular-season career, but this is a smart move by Los Angeles.

Bennett’s future is very much in doubt and Carson Wentz, as impressive as he was in Week 18 against San Francisco, is still a big question mark in the NFL; it’s why he drew no interest from any other teams last season.

Garoppolo is the type of quarterback who can keep the ship afloat if Stafford misses any time at all – something the Rams have to prepare for, considering he’s missed at least one game in three of his last five seasons and is now 36 years old. He may not be a flashy quarterback or someone with great mobility like Wentz and some of the other backups the Rams have had over the years, but he’s a game manager capable of operating an offense similar to the one he ran under Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco.

And with the playmakers the Rams have, he just has to limit turnovers and not make costly mistakes. Get the ball into the hands of Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp and Kyren Williams and let them pick up yards after the catch, which is how Garoppolo made a living in San Francisco around Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk.

We have yet to see the contract details of Garoppolo’s one-year deal but it’s not going to be overly expensive. He’s a 32-year-old backup who struggled in Las Vegas last season. It’s not as if there was going to be a bidding war for him. Plus, he’s suspended for the first two games of the season due to a PED violation so that’ll take two game checks away from him in 2024.

After seeing Brett Rypien fumble his opportunity to start against Green Bay last year, the Rams needed a better backup and that’s what Garoppolo is. There’s little reason not to like this move for Los Angeles, who has an aging starting quarterback and a Super Bowl window that’s open next season.