The Matthew Stafford situation isn't quite what you think it is

Since the L.A. Rams officially began their offseason, it's been anyone's guess as to whether quarterback Matthew Stafford would return to the team in 2025.

We have seen countless rumors and reports regarding Stafford's future in the NFL, but one constant has remained: he wants to play. Now, will that be in Los Angeles? We aren't sure just yet. But, he wants to play.

We have seen rumors of Stafford to the Steelers or Giants, for example, and we also know he'd love to continue playing for Sean McVay. It simply remains to be seen if the Rams are going to give him what he deserves in terms of a re-worked contract.

In his latest column, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated peeled back the curtain on this situation and, specifically, Stafford's so-called "raise" a season ago.

Last offseason, the Rams reportedly gave Stafford a $5 million raise, but Breer explained why this wasn't exactly what we all thought it was. In fact, it wasn't a raise at all.

"But that money wasn’t “new.” Instead it was $4 million moved from ’25, and another $1 million moved from ’26," Breer wrote.

The ball is truly in the Rams' court in this Matthew Stafford saga

Stafford didn't really get a raise last year. Instead, the Rams took money from future years and gave it to him early. That's like if you were a kid, and your parents gave you a gift randomly during the year and, come time for your birthday, told you they had already given you an early birthday present. So at that point, you get nothing.

Not only was his "raise" not what we may have thought it was, but the Rams enter this offseason with $41 million in effective cap space.

And, that's before the league just decided to raise the cap to between $277.5 and $281.5 million for the coming season.

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Stafford would clearly love to keep playing with McVay and his Rams teammates. Les Snead knows he has the money to get it done, too.

With all of this information, the real question now becomes: do the Rams want Stafford?

If they do, money shouldn't be an issue. As Breer also noted in his piece, Stafford is getting paid an annual average which is $20 million less than the top of the market and is coming off a strong season which saw him down several offensive linemen and starting wide receivers at one point or another.

Stafford's contract shouldn't be an issue. Money should be no object, here. If the Rams want Stafford, they can keep him. Now, we'll have to find out if the organization wants to pay up.