NFL Rumors: Rams Won't Let Matthew Stafford Contract, Trade Situation 'Drag Out'

The Los Angeles Rams and Matthew Stafford could come to a contract resolution before the possibility of a training camp holdout comes into question.

The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue reported the Rams "will not let this situation drag out through the spring" like last year's contract negotiations.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported last April that Stafford wanted to adjust his contract to receive more guaranteed money in 2024, but it wasn't until late July and under the treat of a camp holdout that the Rams and their quarterback agreed to terms.

This time around, Rodrigue believes things will be different.

"I don’t believe this is contentious at all, and based on their initial conversation, everybody knows where everybody is at," Rodrigue wrote.

By Rodrigue's estimation, the negotiation could "be figured out before next week, or it could take until after the combine."

The Rams face an initial deadline on March 15, when Stafford is currently owed a $4 million roster bonus, per Spotrac.

Outside of that bonus, Stafford's $23 million base salary for the 2025 season is not guaranteed, per Spotrac.

Last offseason's contract negotiations led to Stafford bringing in an additional $5 million during the 2024 season.

As previously reported by ESPN's Dan Graziano, the Rams could convert some of the quarterback's 2025 salary into bonuses to increase his compensation while lowering his cap hit of nearly $50 million.

The Rams could also look to trade Stafford. Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz has previously reported that multiple teams have reached out to Los Angeles about a potential trade.

It is unclear whether these suitors would be willing to meet the Rams' potential asking price for Stafford, however. Schultz reported that several of these teams believe "a first-round pick would probably be the asking price should the Rams choose to make a deal."

Whether the Rams work out a contract resolution or decide to move on from Stafford, the pressure to decide will increase as the March 12 start of free agency, the March 15 roster bonus deadline and the April 24 draft approaches.