The Los Angeles Rams have some unfinished business to attend to in the 2026 NFL season. They fell one game shy of the Super Bowl after losing to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship game. The Rams were among the Super Bowl favorites throughout the season due to quarterback Matthew Stafford’s play.
He won the NFL MVP award and had one of his best seasons at age 37. Stafford has already announced he will be returning for his 18th season. However, Stafford is entering the final year of his contract and is likely to want a reworked deal.
Sean McVay Not Concerned About Matthew Stafford’s Contract
Stafford has made it clear he wants to return to the Rams, and this will be the franchise he retires with. Even if Stafford only plays one more season, he will probably want an extra year on his current contract as insurance. In the 2025 season, Stafford ranked 6th on the PFSN NFL QB Impact metrics.
According to Adam Grosbard, Rams head coach Sean McVay said, “We’ve had great dialogue … We’ll work through all of those things.”
At this point in his career, Stafford is no longer playing to be the highest-paid player in the league. His current contract is set to pay him $16 million in base salary, but he also carries a cap hit of just over $48 million.
Sean McVay when asked about Matthew Stafford’s contract status entering final year of his deal: “We’ve had great dialogue … We’ll work through all of those things”
— Adam Grosbard (@AdamGrosbard) March 3, 2026
You can bet the Rams will want to lower that number, and that is why they will need to restructure his contract.
Stafford knows that building the best roster is paramount to winning in the NFL, and he will likely do whatever is necessary to give the Rams more money to spend this offseason. The Rams will likely be one of the favorites heading into next season, and Stafford will play a large role in that.
Rams Roster Continues to Get Older
The Rams had one of the oldest rosters in the NFL last season, which means their window to win is now, and adding some quality young players could extend it. With an average age of 26.38, the Rams are the league’s ninth-oldest team.
The Rams are fortunate to have two first-round picks this season. Their first is 13th overall, and their second is 29th overall. The Rams should be able to get two quality rookie starters with those picks as long as they draft well.
Even though the Rams are an old team, they are among the most talented in the league and should once again contend for the Super Bowl in 2026.
