Report: Rams give QB Matthew Stafford, agent permission to gauge market value

After a picturesque start, could Matthew Stafford’s time with the Los Angeles Rams soon be over?

The team has given the quarterback’s agent permission to speak with other NFL organizations to gauge his market value, per ESPN’s Sarah Barshop.

Stafford has two seasons left on a four-year, $160-million extension he signed with the Rams in 2022 after they won Super Bowl LVI over the Cincinnati Bengals. Only $4 million is guaranteed through the remaining years of his deal in 2025 and none in 2026. He has not made a trade request.

The 36-year-old joined L.A. via trade in 2021, swapping places with now-Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff. Stafford was originally drafted first overall by Detroit in 2009 and spent the first 12 years of his NFL career there.

He’s been with the Rams for four seasons and aside from winning a Super Bowl with the squad in his first year, Stafford was also a Pro Bowler in 2023.

After the 2023-24 campaign, and earning a second career Pro Bowl nod, Stafford agreed to re-work his contract. He agreed to a $23.5-million guaranteed salary for 2024-25, a $12.5-million signing bonus and a $4-million guaranteed March roster bonus, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Essentially, Stafford agreed to $40 million guaranteed last year in order to give up other guarantees in the upcoming season and beyond.

In 16 games last season, Stafford threw for 3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions while completing 65.8 per cent of his passes as the Rams went 10-6. He’s played in seven playoff games since joining L.A., earning a 5-2 post-season record during that span.

The Rams have “strong interest” in bringing back Stafford, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on SportsCenter, but he says that the QB’s deal is “untenable” as presently constructed. That’s why they are willing to consider a trade if the two sides cannot work out another deal.

Stafford’s salary cap hit in 2025 is $49.7 million, per Spotrac, while the Rams have $38.3 million in projected space.

Fowler added that “there will be a strong trade market” for the veteran QB should the matter get to that point.