Matthew Stafford Rumors: Rams QB Wants Contract With $50M AAV Amid Trade Buzz

After Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford's agent reportedly was granted permission to gauge his trade value around the NFL, more details have emerged about the signal-caller's desires.

During an appearance on Good Morning Football, NFL Network's Peter Schrager reported, "This is a money issue, and Matthew Stafford wants to be paid what he thinks he's worth. He wants to be paid more than $50 million."

Per Over The Cap, Stafford is set to make a base salary of $23 million in 2025, though he will count for a $49.6 million cap hit due to the Rams previously deferring money on his contract to later years. His average annual value of $40 million ranks 15th among quarterbacks in the NFL, and he proved during a resurgent 2024 campaign that he still has a lot left in the tank and deserves to be paid among the top signal-callers in the league.

ESPN's Sarah Barshop reported on Saturday that while Stafford's agent received permission from the Rams to speak with other teams about his market value, the two sides have also been discussing a reworked deal.

However, Schrager indicated that Los Angeles has not yet shown a willingness to meet Stafford's demands, saying, "There are teams that are willing to pay him more than what the Rams are currently willing to pay him."

Despite being an attractive trade target, Stafford's options are slim. Schrager named the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants as potential landing spots, but he questioned whether either team would be willing to give up significant draft capital in addition to committing to a contract worth at least $50 million.

Still, it sounds like Stafford is steadfast in his belief that he deserves to be paid more, so his time in Los Angeles could be coming to an end sooner than expected.