Stafford's decision places more pressure on Rams organization in 5 key areas

II - Stafford needs help to win the game

The LA Rams offense is no longer built to sit back and let quarterback Matthew Stafford throw the team to another fourth quarter comeback. The mind may still be willing, but the flesh is weak. Since his outstanding debut with the Rams in 2021, Stafford has not broken the 4000 passing yards. Over that same time frame, Stafford has thrown for no more than 24 touchdowns.

Stafford and still throw the football. But the windows of separation need to be bigger. The offense needs to be more diverse. The running game must be more than a play-action distraction. And finally, the team has to be willing to involve far more people in this offense than they have entrusted in the past. HC Sean McVay hinted at that being a direction for the offense this offseason, and I love the thought of that.

It won't happen instantly. It won't happen in the first two or three games. But the team has to do a far better job of drafting offensive weapons, only to let them collect dust as they wait for their opportunity on the bench. The Rams drafted rookie RB Blake Corum and WR Jordan Whittington in the 2024 NFL Draft. They combined to contribute 570 total yards from scrimmage and zero touchdowns.

That is a pathetic return on investment.

From nearly 5000 passing yards and 41 passing touchdowns from Stafford in 2021, the team managed to squeeze just under 3800 yards and 20 touchdowns out of him in 2024. So who were the Rams supposed to rely upon to make up the difference?

Injuries happen. Adversity is a constant. If the team plans to win in 2025, there has to be more strategy to scoring than hoping Stafford can pull off a miracle as time runs out. The defense stepped up in 2024, managing to put up plenty of points for a defense. Now the offense has to step up, and do so with a smaller share of the overall team's salary cap.

That won't be easy.

I - Like Donald, the team must see 2026 without Stafford

In 2023, the LA Rams began to guess that their time with All-Pro DT Aaron Donald was coming to an end. That served to motivate the team to focus on drafting talented players on the defensive front in the 2023 NFL Draft. It was that early beachhead of talented players that enabled the team to double down on the defensive front in the 2024 NFL Draft. Those two drafts combined to help the defense record 16 quarterback sacks in two playoff games.

Now the team must replicate that same process, but this time manage to choreograph a seamless transition from veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford to some new starting quarterback. And the only way to accomplish that transition is to envision their 2026 NFL season without Matthew Stafford.

Too alarmist? Hardly. The Rams front office must work at the disadvantage of making the right moves long before those moves are needed. Imagine the challenge of buying the perfect christmas gift as a secret santa long before you know who you are buying the gift for. Imagine buying textbooks for college classes long before you get the class syllabus. That is that the Rams front office faces each season.

Now, the team is facing a future 'someday,' without starting quarterback Matthew Stafford. So how can the team be ready for that moment when it happens? Prepare for that moment now. To do that, the team must be willing to rewrite the offensive playbook, activate more players in the offensive rotation, and commit to balancing the offense. Not just between runs and passes, but among running backs, tight ends, and wide receivers as well.

No, I'm not shutting the door on Stafford playing for the Rams in 2026. I am simply willing to admit that the front office cannot see that far into the future. So start shaping the roster as though Stafford opts to retire in 2025. Better to be overprepared than to be caught unawares.

Update (February 4, 2025)

No, Stafford's intention to return is not a slam dunk guarantee that he will. Speculation? Not at all. Stafford's position is easy to reconcile with his past stances, but for those who need tangible proof, here it is:

The Rams and Matthew Stafford have plenty of time. But with Cooper Kupp on the trading block, I would not look for a quick resolution on this one.

As always thanks for reading.

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