Matthew Stafford suddenly finds himself at the center of new speculation

The Los Angeles Rams know that nothing lasts forever. Even the three pillars that helped hold the team together after a disappointing 2022 season are now down to one. All-Pro defensive lineman Aaron Donald has retired. All-Pro wide receiver Cooper Kupp has been released. The lone pillar left standing is 37-year-old veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Fans are fully aware of the fragility of the current status of the quarterback room. The team held lengthy and complex negotiations to satisfy the Stafford family and ensure he would be back for the 2025 season. While a deal was struck, both the team and the player walked away knowing it was on a year-by-year basis. Both sides agreed to return in 2026 and hammer out a new deal, of course, that presumes both sides are interested.

ESPN NFL analyst Dan Graziano believes this season is likely the 17-year veteran's last hurrah in Horns. Stringing together several clues, his article suggests that parting ways between team and player is the most probable outcome. Against the backdrop of lingering back issues that stretched through training camp and most of the preseason, Graziano asserts that either the veteran will choose to retire or the team will decide to move in another direction.

Graziano calls curtains on Matthew Stafford's time in LA

The first and most obvious question is determining what post-Stafford football looks like for the football team. After all, no team elects a path to change the status quo if the new scenario offers a worse scenario that cannot be avoided.

He avoids that trap by pointing to possible upsides in his projection. In one future scenario, he sticks with the consensus that the Rams could package two first-round picks (and perhaps more) to trade up in the 2026 NFL Draft for their top-rated rookie quarterback. He adds to that by suggesting the team might also pursue a tarnished veteran like Mac Jones or Malik Willis.

The Rams may take those steps if LA and the veteran QB are no longer interested in continuing through 2026. But Stafford is very competitive, a trait that has defined his 16 years in the NFL. It’s a tough sell to argue that he’ll retire in 2026, and just as hard to suggest that if he has anything close to a successful season, head coach Sean McVay would push for a new quarterback.

Before you lose too much sleep on the matter, Graziano's crystal ball is not exactly accurate. In 2024, he wrote about the Carolina Panthers trading away second-year QB Bryce Young. That never happened, even though the young quarterback showed limited improvement over his rookie season.

Before losing too much sleep over it, Graziano’s crystal ball hasn’t exactly been reliable. In 2024, he predicted the Carolina Panthers would trade away third-year quarterback Bryce Young. That never happened, even though the young QB showed only limited improvement over his rookie season.

It’s a scenario worth discussing. Like any future-looking piece, its value isn’t in taking it at face value, but in sparking imagination and problem-solving for what could await the team in 2026. Why worry about that now? Because unlike so many instant gratification events, there’s no drive-up window in the NFL to claim a plug-and-play quarterback if the need suddenly arises.

Any future roster shortages will take time to address. In the event of a no-Matthew Stafford scenario in 2026, preparation has to begin now. As always, thanks for reading.

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