Rams QB Matthew Stafford swaps 2025 guarantees for $40,000,000 payday in 2024 restructured deal
Before off-season training camp began, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was a potential holdout candidate. Luckily for his sake and the team's sake, that isn't the case.
Looking for a new deal, Stafford was vocal about wanting a contract extension or an altered contract. Coach Sean McVay was optimistic the team would get something done and they did. McVay announced on Tuesday that the team had agreed to a reworked deal with Stafford.
CBS Sports' Jordan Dajani broke down the details of Stafford's revised contract:
"Stafford's revised deal includes a $12.5 million signing bonus, $23.5 million guaranteed this year and a $4 million guaranteed March roster bonus," according to NFL Media.
"Essentially, Stafford signed off on a one-year, $40 million deal after he gave up his 2025 guarantees. By doing his deal this way, Stafford gives himself the ability to sign an entirely new contract next offseason."
Effectively, Stafford reworked his deal to a one-year, $40 million deal. He gave up his other 2025 guarantees to cash in more money this year. The intention is to play another good year in 2024 and re-sign a new deal the following season.
Matthew Stafford was traded to the Rams in 2021 in exchange for quarterback Jared Goff, a 2021 third-round pick and two first-round picks in 2022 and 2023. In his first season with the franchise, he went 12-5 as a starter, tossing a career-high 41 touchdown passes.
Will Matthew Stafford be a Hall-of-Famer when he retires?
Matthew Stafford has been a quality starting quarterback in the NFL for 15 seasons, and he's still going.
Drafted by the Detroit Lions as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, Stafford wasn't put in an ideal situation. In his 12 years with Detroit, he only put together four winning seasons. In three of those seasons, he led the Lions to the playoffs.
As soon as he was traded to the Rams, he won a Super Bowl and threw for more touchdown passes than any other season. In his last two seasons as a starter for LA, he's put together a 12-12 record with a playoff appearance this past season.
Stafford is a two-time Pro Bowler, NFL Comeback Player of the Year and most importantly, a Super Bowl champion. He's thrown for over 55,000 yards and over 350 touchdowns. He could make the case for Canton one day.
Do you think Matthew Stafford deserves to be in the Hall of Fame?