18 July 2023 , 16:30
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The Los Angeles Rams have reportedly been left frustrated with star quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Stafford was signed by the Rams following a trade with the Detroit Lions in January 2021. The NFC North franchise received fellow QB Jared Goff plus several draft picks in exchange for Stafford, who was the No.1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.
In his first season in Los Angeles, Stafford helped the Rams win the Super Bowl in February 2022. The Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 to win only the team’s second Super Bowl in franchise history.
After first signing for the Lions, Stafford still had one year remaining on a $135 million (£103 million) contract he previously had with the Lions. In March 2022, the QB was awarded a four-year extension worth $165 million (£126 million), with $135 million (£103 million) guaranteed.
By the time Stafford’s deal comes to an end, the veteran quarterback will be 38 years old and nearing the end of his career in the NFL. However, it seems that the Rams wanted to renegotiate the contract with Stafford a little over a year after the extension.
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This claim comes from Fox Sports' Colin Cowherd, who has stated that the Rams attempted to renegotiate the terms of Stafford’s contract with the QB. However, it’s been stated that such attempts proved ineffective, which left the franchise not happy with the situation.
“I was told by a source I trust that they wanted to redo his contract. He wasn’t interested. It limits what they can do and they were frustrated with him,” Cowherd told .
“And I could also see them next year taking a quarterback because the way to catch up in this league with personnel is rookie quarterback, go buy four good players.”
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford signed a four-year contract extension in March 2022 (Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Stafford still has three seasons remaining on the four-year contract that he signed in March last year. The 14-year NFL veteran struggled in his second season in Los Angeles, playing just nine games in total.
The 35-year-old suffered an elbow injury in pre-season in 2022, and was then absent for numerous games due to concussion protocols. His last game came in a Week 11 loss to the New Orleans Saints on November 20.
With Stafford guaranteed $135 million (£103 million) with the extension he was awarded a year ago, that could prove to be a financial headache for the Rams if Stafford does not reach his previous standards. If he does, though, then the franchise has a proven Super Bowl-winning QB in their ranks.