Rams, Stafford in Flexible Contract Talks

0:00On March 5th, the Los Angeles Rams are navigating their usual off-season buzz around quarterback Matthew Stafford's contract. It's less tense than past years, but talks continue with his deal set to expire after the 2026 season. Team leaders say the relationship remains stable, and they're handling it year by year. Rams coach Sean McVeigh and general manager Les Sneet shared updates after the NFL Combine. They highlighted positive ongoing talks with Stafford. Both sides see room for adjustments, or even an extension down the line. This approach gives everyone flexibility. Stafford gets to tweak his deal based on performance, while the Rams stay nimble in free agency. Heading into 2026, he has no guaranteed money, a $16 million base salary, and a $48.3 million cap. Hit. Stafford earned big last season as one of the top paid quarterbacks. A strong year could push for more guarantees and a raise above $50 million. For the Rams, the setup avoids heavy dead money if he retires, unlike some past cases.

1:05Expect a similar timeline to last year, with a deal likely wrapping up by early May. That keeps things smooth without dragging into training camp.