Matthew Stafford’s extension is critical to keeping the superstars together

Incentivize and insurance

Matthew Stafford’s desire to play after his next contract is also a critical factor in the process. If he wants to play into his forties, the LA Rams need to position themselves to make the contract work. That means more than compensation. That involves properly incentivizing the contract, and ensuring the team for possible injuries by upgrading their backup quarterback talent.

The LA Rams need a Matthew Stafford contract extension for the salary cap relief next year, but they also need to balance the relief of the extension with their quarterback’s future.

Should the veteran quarterback and the team agree to back-load his contract, that would certainly mean “kicking the can down the road,” but that road may end sooner than most people realize. How many realizable years remain in his career? What level will he play through the course of those seasons? With this contact likely to be his last long-term contract, several factors are in play.

The Rams organization cannot avoid salary cap ramifications forever, even with using voidable years at the end of any newly negotiated extension. If Stafford chooses to retire with the LA Rams, that would end the contract prematurely. There will be some extra cap savings with that, but it may not be much.

So many mouths to feed

According to Spotrac, the team faces a host of major contracts set to expire in 2025, 2026, and 2027. Noteworthy players include defensive lineman Aaron Donald, outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, wide receiver Robert Woods, and defensive backs Jalen Ramsey already on the books. The current extension for wide receiver Cooper Kupp expired in 2023, and he will likely join that list with his extension.

Six players worth over $16 million, four of which are worth $20 million or more, all expiring or needing extensions at the same time, will present financial problems for the team’s front offense. The window for NFL Championships for the LA Rams may be closing soon, but back-loading extensions for Stafford and Kupp can extend the window.

The perfect scenario will be in place if the team can negotiate a deal with their quarterback to significantly back-load a five-year contract and use voidable years to allow him to retire with the team.

If Stafford is willing to work with the front office on the extension and take a similar path into retirement as the one followed by the Buccaneers QB Tom Brady, the LA Rams could balance the salaries to allow all the current stars to retire as LA Rams.