There was once a query as as to whether the Rams would use their first first-round pick out since 2016 on a quarterback. After they did not, phrase emerged that their present quarterback desires extra of his last contract to be assured.
There proceed to be no injuries or coincidences on issues of this nature. With the Rams now not touchdown probably the most most sensible six quarterbacks within the 2024 draft, the leverage swung again to Stafford.
On Friday, the problem inevitably got here up throughout trainer Sean McVay’s in-draft press convention. Stafford did his best possible, as he continuously does, to tiptoe across the matter.
Is the file that Stafford desires extra promises correct? Turn on well mannered non-answer.
“Yeah, I have had just right discussion with Matthew,” McVay stated. “We will stay the ones issues in space, however he is been running with our guys and we will stay the ones issues in space.”
Will Stafford by means of provide for OTAs, the important thing 3rd segment of the offseason program? Be non-committal.
“He is been running with our guys the remaining couple weeks,” McVay stated. “And in order that’s more or less the place we are at with that.”
Will the Rams discover a strategy to the contract factor? Keep away from matter totally.
“We are indisputably jacked to have Matthew as our QB,” McVay stated.
So he will be at OTAs? Relent to the placement and supply one thing with reference to an actual reply after which exchange the subject.
“We are going to take it an afternoon at a time,” McVay stated. “We will see. So we are going to take a look at to determine it out. There may be not anything that is extra necessary than ensuring that he feels favored and he is aware of how a lot we adore him and wish him to cleared the path. I believe that dedication that I believe he desires to have will also be reciprocated and we need to paintings in opposition to figuring that out. On a favorable notice, I will say this. You get [Blake] Corum and also you get [Kamren] Kinchens. For us so that you could come away with 4 avid gamers who we’ve a constant appreciation for. For those who advised us that those had been the 4 guys that we would be able to come away with after the primary two nights of the draft, their make-up is implausible in relation to the intangibles, the psychological toughness. Those guys all have a physicality to their recreation. They are mature males and that is the reason the type of guys that we would have liked so that you could herald. It is this type of credit score to [G.M.] Les [Snead, his crew, the quantity of labor that they have achieved after which running together with our training team of workers. There was unanimous pleasure for all 4 of the ones alternatives and the next day to come will constitute a chance for us to beef up as smartly.”
Stafford’s choices are restricted. He may just skip OTAs, since they are voluntary. He may just ask for a industry, however it is a little past due for that. Maximum if now not all seats are stuffed. (The Raiders and Giants are the 2 groups that had been taking into account a quarterback on Thursday night time however did not draft one.)
He may just retire, one thing the Rams very quietly was hoping he would possibly do a 12 months in the past (they would by no means admit it, identical to they denied they requested him to transform his contract in 2023 earlier than Stafford stated they did). However he’d owe the Rams $36 million in unearned signing bonus — and he’d be giving up $31 million in fully-guaranteed wage this 12 months, plus some other $10 million in fully-guaranteed wage subsequent 12 months. That is $77 million.
Stafford is properly making use of force to be able to make sure that he does not get thrown overboard after the present season. They would wish to make a snappy determination (there is a $5 million roster bonus due at the 3rd day of the league 12 months), however they would indisputably be capable of transfer on after 2023 with best $10 million owed. Stafford desires that quantity to be upper, making sure as a sensible subject that they would possibly not reduce him.
The remaining sensible piece of leverage Stafford would have is to take the bare-minimum solution to 2023: I am not appearing up early. I am not staying past due. I am not finding out movie at house. I am not running on Tuesdays. I am not doing a rattling other thing than what I am contractually required to do. If you do not respect me sufficient to provide me extra safety, I am not giving to any extent further than I am required to do.
Would Stafford do this? That is the actual query. It is simple to assume it and even to mention it, however he is a competitor. He would possibly not need to half-ass what may well be his ultimate 12 months in L.A.
The Rams mustn’t need to possibility it. They must make a two-year dedication to Stafford, with the working out that they’re going to revisit the placement after 2025. It isn’t exhausting, in the event that they in point of fact need him for the following two years. If the very quietly best need him for another 12 months, it will get difficult.
The truth that it is these days difficult means that, certainly, the Rams best need him for another 12 months. Stafford is properly calling them on it now.