Even if the organization allowed Matthew Stafford to speak with other teams, to assess its value outside Los Angeles, the conviction of the head coach Sean Mcvay that Stafford would play again for the RAMs in 2025 never gave up.
That said, since Stafford has accepted a reworked contract to return to Rams for a fifth season? “I was sleeping better for the past two days,” said Mcvay at a zooming press conference on Monday.
When the Rams and Stafford reworked its contract for 2024 last summer, accepting only a new structure on the eve of the training camp in July, the two parties understood that more work should be done for 2025. Stafford owed only $ 27 million, including a bonus of $ 4 million, well below the market value of the best quarters.
And Stafford has proven that he could always play at a high level in 2024 even though the injuries darkened the RAMS offensive. He completed 65.8% of his passes for 3,762 yards and 20 affected while launching eight interceptions, the lowest number of Stafford’s career in a season where he played 16 games. And he led the Rams in a conversion of the red zone of a return victory over the Eagles during the divisional round of the NFC.
Thus, once Stafford decided to play in 2025, he and his representation began to negotiate with the RAMs on a reworked contract.
“There is no way to put a real value on what he means,” said Mcvay, “but what does it mean to be able to adapt it to the landscape for our football team, where we are?”
The conversations included Stafford, his wife Kelly, his agent Jimmy Sexton, the president of the Rams, Kevin Demoff, the general manager the SNEAD and the vice-president of football and the business administration Tony Pastoors. Over the process, the RAMs have granted Stafford permission to speak with other teams and to assess its market value, and to what the remuneration of exchanges for RAMS would look like.
It seems that the Giants of Raiders and New York have shown serious interest. While Stafford considered his options, Mcvay allowed him to make a decision without selling difficult. And finally Friday morning, the two parties sat down and accepted an agreement.
“It was always the final goal in the mind,” said Mcvay. “But I think you want to allow him to make a decision with Kelly and his family that suits him best, which can be excited. I think it’s the important thing, it is that you want everyone to feel really well in the partnership. »»
In the end, the agreement is simply an adjustment to this year’s remuneration. Mcvay plans that Rams and Stafford must have this conversation again next season for the last season of his contract.
“As long as he wants to play, I know that we feel really good about it,” said Mcvay. “I think he can play for a few more years if that’s what he wanted.”
With Stafford in the fold, the Rams were able to focus on other things. In the hours following their acceptance with conditions with Stafford, the team re-signed the left platform Alaric Jackson to a three-year contract. Mcvay said on Monday that the tight veteran Tyler Higbee and the right tackle Rob Havenstein should be back with the team next season.
“These guys contribute to our success,” said Mcvay. “I thought the two played at a very high level.”
But in addition to bringing these familiar faces, the Rams will have to reach a conclusion in the out -of -season saga involving a long -standing face of the franchise.
Last month, receiver Cooper Kupp announced that the team had informed him that they were trying to exchange it. With the former Super Bowl MVP, ready to count $ 29.78 million against the salary ceiling in 2025 and after missing 16 games in the last three seasons due to an injury, the RAMs are ready to enter a season without KUPP for the first time in Mcvay’s mandate with the franchise.
“There has not been a more difficult decision since I was here,” said Mcvay. “You finally try to bring the puzzle together with a lot of reflection and consideration. We just felt like it was the best direction for our football team. This does not remove the love, respect and gratitude you have for what he has done. But that comes down to what we think is best in terms of gathering the whole puzzle. There are obviously a lot of diapers.
Mcvay said the Rams had not had conversations on a potential contract restructuring with KUPP or its representatives. But the coach did not completely exclude the possibility that the receiver returns to the RAMs if the team is not able to find a trading partner.
“I think I would never talk about absolute,” said Mcvay. “But I think we collect all the information. We will take it one day both and we will see what the next steps involve. »»