The RAMS Forum

If Stafford comes back next year, will there be yet another standoff? I believe that either party can opt out. In fairness, he probably has an under market salary compared to top tier Qbs (regardless of how much he has earned in his career).

Sign him for 4 years for whatever they agree on per year with an Opt out for both parties after each year...

100% he is going to ask for more money. we are going to know what the Rams stance is after the draft

Rampager66 wrote: ↑January 13th, 2026, 8:26 am Sign him for 4 years for whatever they agree on per year with an Opt out for both parties after each year...

This^ other than I’m not sure if he would agree to a team opt out each year……..

He is going to want more $$$$ and you pay him……..

He has a chance to be the greatest QB in franchise history. Sign him to 2years minimum if he wants to come back.

NorCal RF wrote: ↑January 13th, 2026, 9:48 am

Rampager66 wrote: ↑January 13th, 2026, 8:26 am Sign him for 4 years for whatever they agree on per year with an Opt out for both parties after each year...

This^ other than I’m not sure if he would agree to a team opt out each year……..

He is going to want more $$$$ and you pay him……..

Maybe no opt out for the team til after year 2. He'll be 40 by then. They'll be on the hook for 110-120M... at least
Probably front loaded too.

Rampager66 wrote: ↑January 13th, 2026, 11:09 am

NorCal RF wrote: ↑January 13th, 2026, 9:48 am

This^ other than I’m not sure if he would agree to a team opt out each year……..

He is going to want more $$$$ and you pay him……..

Maybe no opt out for the team til after year 2. He'll be 40 by then. They'll be on the hook for 110-120M... at least
Probably front loaded too.

Agree with this………..

I think that continuing with Stafford works so long as Jimmy G continues as back up. I have tremendous confidence in Jimmy despite hating him on the Niners.

I hope the Rams use their leverage and tell him to play on his 2026 contract or retire. He ain’t walking away from 55 million so that’s a moot point. If he wants a contract in 2027 then that can be worked out after 2026, not before

Current contract:

ocram23 wrote: ↑January 13th, 2026, 9:28 am 100% he is going to ask for more money. we are going to know what the Rams stance is after the draft

I mean his agent shopped him last offseason and found no takers for what it’d take to get him. I do wonder coming off the best year of his career, even at his age, his trade value should be higher. Would a team like say the Colts be willing to deal multiple 1sts for him?

Slickjack wrote: ↑January 13th, 2026, 5:10 pm I think that continuing with Stafford works so long as Jimmy G continues as back up. I have tremendous confidence in Jimmy despite hating him on the Niners.

I think they would do well to make Stetson the backup and save 3M and draft in another developmental player.

DVA_ram33 wrote: ↑January 13th, 2026, 8:47 pm

Slickjack wrote: ↑January 13th, 2026, 5:10 pm I think that continuing with Stafford works so long as Jimmy G continues as back up. I have tremendous confidence in Jimmy despite hating him on the Niners.

I think they would do well to make Stetson the backup and save 3M and draft in another developmental player.

if he wants to play he will be a Ram next year. No way am I going into the year with Stetson as the backup. would rather have JG

I'm not fully in the know on this stuff. Can someone tell me what happens if he wants more $$$ next year, Rams say no - play out your contract and we talk after that. If he holds out, he holds out and cannot go to another team. What would we have to pay him? Anything? i assume not besides his signing bonus already paid.

I have a hard time giving a opinion to this thread bc I want to see how the year end. Depending on Stafford health and how the season end, Stafford could get a 2 year deal for 105-108 million. More likely get 57-60 million guaranteed for 2026 season and 48 million for 2027 (which is bc of void years, and money already given to Stafford)

RAMFAN71 wrote: ↑Yesterday, 8:52 am I'm not fully in the know on this stuff. Can someone tell me what happens if he wants more $$$ next year, Rams say no - play out your contract and we talk after that. If he holds out, he holds out and cannot go to another team. What would we have to pay him? Anything? i assume not besides his signing bonus already paid.

The issue is, next year isn't enough new money for Stafford, it's just void year money and signing bonus money that was already given/promised to Stafford for the play he did for 2025 season. Rams and other teams structure contracts in this way, to spread out cap hits).
Only new money for Stafford for 2026 is his option bonus and his base salary. Which would be 40 million. I doubt he plays for 40 million new money, especially when 9 million of that was already promised to him for the 2025 season, but the Rams wanted to spread it out. So really he is playing for 31 million.

Cornell29 wrote: ↑Yesterday, 9:45 am

RAMFAN71 wrote: ↑Yesterday, 8:52 am I'm not fully in the know on this stuff. Can someone tell me what happens if he wants more $$$ next year, Rams say no - play out your contract and we talk after that. If he holds out, he holds out and cannot go to another team. What would we have to pay him? Anything? i assume not besides his signing bonus already paid.

The issue is, next year isn't enough new money for Stafford, it's just void year money and signing bonus money that was already given/promised to Stafford for the play he did for 2025 season. Rams and other teams structure contracts in this way, to spread out cap hits).
Only new money for Stafford for 2026 is his option bonus and his base salary. Which would be 40 million. I doubt he plays for 40 million new money, especially when 9 million of that was already promised to him for the 2025 season, but the Rams wanted to spread it out. So really he is playing for 31 million.

Thanks- I get that part and I do understand void years and their purpose. 40mm seems low for the MVP and a QB at that. So I get giving him more. I guess there's prob zero chance he plays as is and that the Rams won't offer more. Moot point. But if he holds out for some crazy number Rams won't pay, he is still under contract right? Cannot leave. 40mm is not enough for 17 games....so insane where we are. It's a game.

RAMFAN71 wrote: ↑Yesterday, 10:19 am

Cornell29 wrote: ↑Yesterday, 9:45 am

The issue is, next year isn't enough new money for Stafford, it's just void year money and signing bonus money that was already given/promised to Stafford for the play he did for 2025 season. Rams and other teams structure contracts in this way, to spread out cap hits).
Only new money for Stafford for 2026 is his option bonus and his base salary. Which would be 40 million. I doubt he plays for 40 million new money, especially when 9 million of that was already promised to him for the 2025 season, but the Rams wanted to spread it out. So really he is playing for 31 million.

Thanks- I get that part and I do understand void years and their purpose. 40mm seems low for the MVP and a QB at that. So I get giving him more. I guess there's prob zero chance he plays as is and that the Rams won't offer more. Moot point. But if he holds out for some crazy number Rams won't pay, he is still under contract right? Cannot leave. 40mm is not enough for 17 games....so insane where we are. It's a game.

Yes, he is still under contract. Rams can do what they did last year, have Stafford shop around and see his other options. Stafford can decide if he should go to a team like Jets (for example) and make 5 plus million more a year, stay with Rams or retire. My guess , Stafford remains a Ram for 2026 with a new deal

Cornell29 wrote: ↑Yesterday, 9:45 am

RAMFAN71 wrote: ↑Yesterday, 8:52 am I'm not fully in the know on this stuff. Can someone tell me what happens if he wants more $$$ next year, Rams say no - play out your contract and we talk after that. If he holds out, he holds out and cannot go to another team. What would we have to pay him? Anything? i assume not besides his signing bonus already paid.

The issue is, next year isn't enough new money for Stafford, it's just void year money and signing bonus money that was already given/promised to Stafford for the play he did for 2025 season. Rams and other teams structure contracts in this way, to spread out cap hits).
Only new money for Stafford for 2026 is his option bonus and his base salary. Which would be 40 million. I doubt he plays for 40 million new money, especially when 9 million of that was already promised to him for the 2025 season, but the Rams wanted to spread it out. So really he is playing for 31 million.

This^. Great clarity here. The MVP of the league isn’t playing for $31m next year and nor should he. And being 37 has nothing to do with it………

And JMO save the he has made how much so far, he needs to give the Rams a team discount, etc, etc, etc. That is real world nonsense not fantasy world NFL. What we don’t want to pay arguably the best QB in the league right now and instead want to deal with the crap that is out there that so many teams had to deal with this year. We do know how many QB’s started at least one game this year right?……..

And the comment well they let his agent shop him around last year. LMAO. He wasn’t going anywhere and those who he think he was is laughable. And like oc just said if he wants to play next year it will be with this team………