Matthew Stafford Contract Status

[Psycho_X]

Pretty confident this is going to be much ado about nothing. If this was happening during free agency when there was a ton of action going on I think it gets 10% of the media attention it has this last week with far less melodramatic play.

 

[Mojo Ram]

Of course... but McVay/Snead has never given lineman big contracts.

Alaric won't get one - he could get a raise for sure, but if other teams are offering big money the rams won't go there.

I agree with your premise. It’s accurate, however in this case we’re talking about a negotiation with Stafford. He could very well be asking “Who’s my LT going forward?” It’s not ALL about the money.

Maybe Stafford takes less money if the Rams guarantee AJ returns. Just a thought.

 

[ottoman89]

I'm to the point where just trade his ass. I'm tired of the games every damn year after he signed a 4yr $160mil deal.

The draft capital, and a far less expensive Arod or Jimmy G will get us similar to where we want while "rebuilding" with extra draft capital and cap space.

 

[Ram_Rally]

I think I the raiders with stafford and more FA additions could be pretty good next year.
The problem is if stafford gets hurt. Even still, it’s a thin margin of error due to that tough division. If things went their way, they could win 10-12 games…..they could also go south winning 6-8 games.

I just wouldn't want to be in a division with Mahomes and Herbert. And in a conference with Burrow Allen and Jackson.

 

[Ram_Rally]

I don't think we are shelling out big money for an o-lineman. We never do.

If Alaric is going to get big buck offers from someone, I don't think that the rams are matching it.

People are trying to connect Stafford with the ability to re-sign Jackson. I get it, but I don't think they have much effect on each other.

I think they have the most expensive interior line in the league.

 

[snackdaddy]

Been saying for a while now that if they keep Stafford they will likely just get Alaric done. But if they know they're gonna move Stafford then it opens up some other options, as now 2025 is another rebuild year so hey if that LT they like falls why not, and that applies to QB as well. Basically the QB change means drafting a QB and maybe a LT too or at least playing loose with Alaric and risky with the market.

I would rate Alaric a priority no matter who the QB is. No, he not one of the best at his position. But he's above average. Those guys don't come easy. Plus, the continuity. He knows the system and the guys around him. If they let him walk they could easily do worse.

 

[snackdaddy]

Of course... but McVay/Snead has never given lineman big contracts.

Alaric won't get one - he could get a raise for sure, but if other teams are offering big money the rams won't go there.

I dunno. They gave Dotson a nice contract. And he didn't have a full year sample size. Didn't start till week 4.

 

[Psycho_X]

I would rate Alaric a priority no matter who the QB is. No, he not one of the best at his position. But he's above average. Those guys don't come easy. Plus, the continuity. He knows the system and the guys around him. If they let him walk they could easily do worse.

I'm guessing Rams would be ok giving him a contract of an average LT ($15ish mil a year) but free agency doesn't care about that sometimes. If he is the only young and decent LT to hit the market he could get stupid money from a desperate team. I don't see the Rams paying him that and going another route. There's also questions about his suspension and past medical issues that only the Rams know about fully. There may be reasons they don't want to commit long term big cap numbers to him.

 

[den-the-coach]

I just wouldn't want to be in a division with Mahomes and Herbert. And in a conference with Burrow Allen and Jackson.

On the surface that might be accurate, however, if you feel you are the best, what better way to prove that then to beat the best.

 

[Londoner]

I just wouldn't want to be in a division with Mahomes and Herbert.

Don't worry: you won't be.

 

[DzRams]

His APY is $40M. I believe he got $60M up front in 22', so his base salaries going forward is lower. He does not seem to understand that he got $60M up front.

So I am guessing they give him another 40M bonus up front again so the cap hit for that is spread out over the next 3 years with maybe another void year thrown in to spread out the cap hit even further. Probably means a higher base fir the next 2 years as well. So probably adding another $15M in cap number this year maybe more as they will want to reduce his cap impact as much as possible in 26' .

So will he be happy with that? And don't expect any FA help this year if they try to front load it as much as possible to limit the impact of this deal on re-signing these last two draft classes in 26' and 27'.

I'm not sure why anyone is thinking he doesn't understand that he got $60m up front. The man is pretty smart and he has an agent that can explain this to him. He knows his contract is for $40m per year.

But $40m is anywhere from 67% to 80% of the going rate for QBs.

As for free agents, signs are that the Rams are looking to be very conservative in free agency no matter what happens with Matthew. They're not wanting to get into a bidding war for AJ but they're allowing him to hit free agency so it doesn't look like they intended to retain him.

My sense is that the Rams strategy is: bring Stafford back, replace Kupp with Whitt, replace AJ with a draft pick, bring the team back largely as is, and compete as best as you can with that. No big free agent splashes, with or without Stafford.

 

[snackdaddy]

Don't worry: you won't be.

Don't sell him short.

 

[snackdaddy]

I'm guessing Rams would be ok giving him a contract of an average LT ($15ish mil a year) but free agency doesn't care about that sometimes. If he is the only young and decent LT to hit the market he could get stupid money from a desperate team. I don't see the Rams paying him that and going another route. There's also questions about his suspension and past medical issues that only the Rams know about fully. There may be reasons they don't want to commit long term big cap numbers to him.

Yeah, I agree if someone pays him elite LT money they won't even try to match it. So its possible they could lose him. I'm thinking if he doesn't get that 20 mil plus multi-year deal somewhere else they might be able to work something out. Right now its just a guessing game. Teams can't make offers till the legal tampering period.

 

[DzRams]

Maybe it's not a losing situation.

As I posted in another thread, along with no income tax the Raiders have the 2nd most cap space in the league, 10 draft choices, and a new HC who has had success in the NFL. They could possibly turn things around in one season just like Washington did last year.

And they've been giving KC problems even without good QB play.

And they have Tom Brady convincing people to sign there. We may hate Brady but don't underestimate the influence of his voice.

 

[Ellard80]

And they have Tom Brady convincing people to sign there. We may hate Brady but don't underestimate the influence of his voice.

I get your point... However Tom Brady and Stafford personality wise don't seem to mesh very well. They have some obvious things in common, but I have trouble seeing them as ever being friends.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Jourdan said Rams want Alaric to test the market and they themselves are curious to see how much he'll garner.

Like I said, those that want to keep him either way may be in for a rude awakening.

Or Aleric doesn’t get offered what his agent thinks he will. Do you think he’s worth a top OLT contract?

I think he’s very good, but not great. There was just a draft loaded with LT types and a lot of vets available at the position.

That being said, it only takes two teams to get into a bidding war. Keep in mind he has very short arms for a Left Tackle. I feel it’s one of his drawbacks but he manages to do enough to protect the QB.

 

[Londoner]

don't underestimate the influence of his voice.

And his looks. He's so dreamy.

 

[thirteen28]

I figure they will identify which QB they prefer from this class to build with, and they will position as required to get him where there's good value plus it is likely he is there. Of course QB is hard to figure given how needy teams are with it. Reaches are far more likely. But for example if they like Dart then they may take him at 26. If it's Howard maybe they move back a bit and then take him.

Now if McVay doesn't care for any of these QBs then they probably stand pat. Bennett should be capable of being QB2 now and if not he needs to go. And if they move Stafford and keep Jimmy that's not ideal (he doesn't stretch the field he's an underneath dumper) but they can deal for this season that route I suppose.

But I suspect McVay will leave no stone unturned with this QB class. There is raw talent with them, question of which flaws you can operate around. Reason I like Dart so much is because he just needs seasoning and McVay would enjoy that curve of coaching him up while Jimmy or whoever handles the starting role.

I'm not a draft guru, but those that are have assured me that Dart isn't 1st round material ... but you are talking me into it, dammit!

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Feels like it would be a mistake to let Stafford walk and then not at least keep the young core.

They either have to sign AJ now so his contract isn’t up once Turner, Puka, and Avila need signed or they move on and try to get that young Left Tackle in place after the last two draft classes get resigned.

I’d prefer they sign him because 2-4 years of plugging a declining or not do good player into that spot does not sound like a worthwhile risk. In fact if they sign him now, they may be able to move on from him once the stars of the 2024 draft need new contracts.

 

[ottoman89]

Jourdan said Rams want Alaric to test the market and they themselves are curious to see how much he'll garner.

Like I said, those that want to keep him either way may be in for a rude awakening.

Great, creating another hole with limited draft capital and cap space.