Matthew Stafford cashes in, LA Rams land QB for 4 more years.

If you were wondering about the LA Rams and that extension for QB Matthew Stafford? Wonder no more. The LA Rams and Stafford will be doing business together for quite some time. Today ESPN’s NFL Insider Adam Schefter reports that the two sides have hammered out a four-year deal that will average $40 million per year, and guarantee nearly all of that amount, $135 million.

While we know that the devil is in the details, we do know several things with this signing. The LA Rams have ensured that Stafford will go nowhere. That is and will be huge as the team will lobby for other players to come to the team.

And why not? If I’m an NFL free agent, particularly on the offensive side of the ball, I’m calling my agent and asking him to lean on the LA Rams, even to the point of discounting my play. Why? In the long run, it’s just good business. Catch Stafford passes, showcase my stuff, go sign a mega-bucks deal.

Mo’ money Matthew

Secondly, it demonstrates just how much confidence the team has in Stafford, and rightfully so. Stafford, although his first year with the team, was outstanding in this offense and tied or the trifecta of Rams Franchise All-Time Single-Season passing records. That type of performance out of the gates, with or without a Super Bowl victory, warrants a pay raise.

Thirdly, thanks to the magic of creative accounting, the LA Rams actually free up money with this deal. With this deal cemented in place, the team can pivot to reworking DL Aaron Donald’s deal. With those two pieces in place, the Rams should be able to work the second or even third waves of the NFL Free Agency market.

Unlike other events of extending players after a Super Bowl appearance, I expect that Stafford’s work ethic will be even more honed for the 2022 NFL season. After all, that’s why they pay him the big bucks, right?