Matthew

Stafford

A non-update update. It isn’t the deal that it was last year, where thoughts of a Stafford trade became one of the focal points of the combine, but Stafford probably does deserve a contract adjustment after winning the MVP. The Rams would face no constraints to give him a raise, as they enter the offseason with $40 million in cap space before they even make any adjustments. More importantly, there’s been zero talk of him leaving the Rams this offseason.

Simpson would be a developmental project for Rams head coach Sean McVay if LA spent a draft pick on the Alabama product this spring. Howe said Simpson is considered “a high-level processor who wins before the snap, and his intangibles are through the roof. His ceiling might be as a Purdy type, though Purdy has a thicker frame and Simpson’s durability and shortage of starting experience are concerns.” Simpson, who had 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and five interceptions over 15 games in 2025, is not widely considered a Week 1 starter for 2026.

Matthew Stafford, 38, is entrenched as the 2026 starter. Bonsignore writes that “the Rams are already planning for that inevitable transition” that will occur whenever Stafford chooses to retire. Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza is unlikely to be available when the Rams are on the clock with the 13th and 29th first-round picks. Bonsignore singles out Alabama QB Ty Simpson as an option for the Rams, while noting that they will likely take a look at Penn State QB Drew Allar, Miami QB Carson Beck, Arkansas QB Taylen Green, Georgia Tech QB Haynes King, Clemson QB Cade Klubnik and LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier at the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes that this was the closest MVP race since Peyton Manning and Steve McNair shared the award in 2003. Stafford narrowly beat Patriots QB Drake Maye, winning 24 first-place votes to Maye’s 23 while totaling 366 points to Maye’s 361. Stafford closed his acceptance speech by telling the audience he will return for another season in 2026.

Stafford played through this injury all season. The same injury sidelined him for much of training camp and raised some doubts about his availability entering the season. Stafford played at an MVP caliber level despite dealing with the injury, and it sounds like the offseason will be all he needs to get right for next season, should he choose to return. Rapoport also noted that “as of at least a couple of days ago,” Stafford’s plan is to play next season.

Stafford, who turns 38 this month, said he will take “some time” to decide whether or not to return for another season. The 17-year vet is coming off arguably his best season as a pro and could soon take home MVP honors after throwing for 4,707-46-8 while leading the Rams to a 12-5 record. The Rams have a talented roster in place around Stafford that should be more than capable of running things back next season should he decide to return. After coming so close to his second trip to the Super Bowl, it’s hard to imagine him walking away after such a successful season while still playing at a high level.

Stafford, 37, is coming off his best season as a pro, throwing a career-high 46 touchdowns alongside just eight interceptions. Stafford’s 2025 adjusted yards per attempt (8.82) was the best of his 17-year NFL career. “It’ll be a lot that goes into it,” Stafford said. “It’s a physical, a mental and emotional decision, a personal and a family decision as well. So, we’ll figure all that kind of stuff out with some time. ... I know I had a ton of fun playing football this season and had so much fun playing for the Rams. So when I’m ready to figure that out, I’ll be ready to figure that out. That moment isn’t right now.” Stafford is signed through the 2026 season and would count as a $48.2 million cap hit for the Rams.

With roughly five minutes left in the game and a chance to take the lead, Stafford couldn’t find anyone open on third or fourth down as the Seahawks dropped extra players into coverage. It obscured a middle two quarters where Stafford absolutely torched a defense that has been mostly untouchable by non-Rams opponents this season, as he stuck haymaker after haymaker to keep the Rams in the game after Xavier Smith’s muffed punt put the Rams in an 11-point deficit. The runaway surprise QB1 this year after coming into the season with a scary-sounding back injury, Stafford authored an MVP-caliber 2025, leading the league in passing yards and throwing a career-high 46 touchdowns. He enters 2026 drafts as a mid-range QB1 despite what will be obvious questions about his age (38) and health history.

The Rams’ offense struggled to get going in the wintry conditions at Soldier Field, but a solid defensive effort kept the game within reach and gave the Rams plenty of chances to pull out the win. Despite not throwing a touchdown pass in this one, Stafford did his part to keep the offense on schedule, coming up with multiple big gains through the air on the Rams’ two touchdown drives that both ended with Kyren Williams finding the end zone. Stafford saw two sack fumbles take favorable bounces into the hands of Rams players to keep his turnover total to zero on the day, and will now look to pull off a third-straight road win against the Seahawks next week for the right to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

Stafford is dealing with a sprain on his right index finger. The 37-year-old quarterback suffered the injury early in the win over the Panthers in the Wild Card round. He never came out of the game. The Rams will go as far in these playoffs as Stafford can take them. His finger injury doesn’t appear to be a serious impediment at this point.