ESPN: Teams 'Skeptical' Matthew Stafford Would Leave Rams amid Contract, Trade Rumors

While his future in Southern California remains the subject of speculation, some around the NFL doubt whether Matthew Stafford will leave the Los Angeles Rams this offseason, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Fowler reported Monday on SportsCenter how Stafford and the Rams are open to continuing their partnership, though that requires a new contract. That's not a deal-breaker for L.A., but it's unclear how high general manager Les Snead is prepared to go.

Fowler went on to say that allowing Stafford's agents to gauge his general market may not be a sign he's going anywhere.

"So, if somebody comes with a big number and he gets that kind of feedback, takes it to the Rams, they might not want to match that, then that could lead to a million dominoes that would dominate this offseason," the NFL insider said. "But as of now, cooler heads could prevail. Both sides do want to shake something out, and a lot of other teams I've talked to, including teams that need a quarterback, are skeptical that Stafford would leave the Rams."

Stafford counts for $49.7 million against the salary cap in 2025, which is the fifth-biggest cap hit in the league.

The dilemma for the Rams is that an extension could lower the short-term cost for the two-time Pro Bowler, yet the risk is that they could be saddled with a bloated contract that limits their long-term flexibility. Stafford has performed well over the past two seasons, but the 37-year-old isn't getting any younger.

Los Angeles could be victims of its own success to some degree in this situation.

Letting Stafford go would probably be an easier call if the Rams were a middling squad or hovering around .500. Instead, they've made back-to-back playoff appearances and have a bright future thanks to their young defense.

When trading or releasing Stafford likely means downgrading at quarterback, the team is clearly incentivized to find some sort of middle ground.

And for Stafford, ending his career in L.A. probably sounds enticing when the team has generally been a contender during his four years there.