As illogical as a commerce might sound, we examined why Los Angeles would take into account it.
This is the case for and towards the Rams buying and selling Stafford this offseason.
The case for
Stafford’s commerce worth may by no means get any greater
If Los Angeles intends to transition from the Stafford period, this offseason is the very best time to half methods. His present deal expires in 2026, giving a possible subsequent workforce two seasons with Stafford underneath contract. Contemplating the dearth of excellent quarterbacks on this 12 months’s free company class — Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold is arguably the very best obtainable — the Rams may get important worth in return for his or her Tremendous Bowl-winning quarterback.
The Rams would get youthful at quarterback
Los Angeles has undergone a youth motion all over the place on its roster however at quarterback. Getting youthful on the place would put the workforce’s core on the identical timeline. Stafford just lately turned 37. The Rams may pursue Darnold, 27, Steelers quarterback Justin Fields, 25, or a rookie on this 12 months’s draft class so as to add to a core that features broad receiver Puka Nacua, defensive finish Jared Verse and defensive sort out Braden Fiske, all gamers on rookie contracts.
A commerce would save the Rams $4.3 million or $27 million in 2025 wage cap area
Regardless of already being an estimated $44.3M underneath the projected 2025 cap, the Rams might be financially motivated to maneuver on from Stafford. Per Spotrac, Los Angeles would save $4.3M towards the cap by buying and selling Stafford in a pre-June 1 transaction and $26,999,999 in a post-June 1. With the Rams additionally exploring commerce choices for Tremendous Bowl MVP broad receiver Cooper Kupp, they may unload tens of millions as they construct their subsequent Tremendous Bowl-contending roster.
The case towards
Rams can win a Tremendous Bowl subsequent season with Stafford
The most important drawback with Los Angeles deciding to rebuild is that it’s adequate to contend for a Lombardi Trophy in 2025 with its veteran quarterback.
In 2024, the Rams received 9 of their final 12 regular-season video games to succeed in the playoffs and practically beat the eventual champion Eagles on the street within the divisional spherical. If Los Angeles needs to compete for a Tremendous Bowl title in 2025, it should maintain Stafford.
Youthful does not equal higher
If any workforce ought to perceive this, it is the Rams. 9 years in the past, they went all-in to accumulate the No. 1 total choose of the 2016 NFL Draft and choose quarterback Jared Goff, solely to commerce him 5 years later for Stafford, who expeditiously led the franchise to their first Lombardi Trophy because the 1999 season.
Whereas going youthful would take away the specter of their quarterback retiring anytime quickly, that is perhaps the one profit.
Quarterback purgatory isn’t any place to be
The NFL’s finest groups have extra constants than variables. Why would the Rams need to topic themselves to a future shrouded in uncertainty at quarterback?
Los Angeles is aware of what it has in Stafford. Anybody who watched a number of the throws he made throughout the 2024 playoffs understands that he is nonetheless elite. Discarding Stafford could be the final word signal of hubris from Los Angeles, a wager that head coach Sean McVay would make issues work with anybody at quarterback. Contemplating how troublesome it’s for groups to discover a franchise quarterback, that is a ridiculous mind-set. Quarterbacks like Stafford do not develop on timber. If that’s the case, he would not be practically as beneficial of a commerce chip.
