Longevity in the NFL, particularly at quarterback, is both rare and revered. For the Los Angeles Rams, that longevity is embodied by Matthew Stafford, who enters his 17th season at age 37 with the arm talent — and competitive fire — of a quarterback a decade younger. But as expectations mount and windows narrow, the question for Stafford and the Rams becomes this: is there another MVP-caliber run left in the tank, or are we watching the final chapters of an era?
According to Ryan Clark on The Mina Kimes Show, Davante Adams sees something special in Stafford — something that reminds him of a late-career legend.
“He told me something that really stood out,” Clark said. “He said, ‘You know, I got to play with an older Aaron [Rodgers].’ Then he said, ‘Matthew [Stafford] still has that kind of juice in his arm.’”
Adams wasn’t just speaking in platitudes. He referenced Rodgers’ back-to-back MVP seasons and saw that same elite command in Stafford. More importantly, he noted Stafford’s mental approach: total confidence without the ego.
“He has this competitiveness without the a-hole to it,” Clark added. “That really caught my attention.”
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That mindset has permeated Rams practices this offseason. “He empowers his guys,” Adams said. “And when a quarterback empowers his players like that, you’re going to get a great product on the field.”
But even if the intangibles are there, the margin for error is thin.
Matthew Stafford’s Impact – and His Limitations
In 2024, Stafford threw for 3,761 yards, 20 touchdowns, and eight interceptions across 16 games. He led a young Rams team to the playoffs and nearly upset the eventual champion Eagles. His arm is still live. His decision-making remains sharp. And despite injuries to key weapons and offensive linemen, Pro Football Focus still placed him among the top 10 veteran QBs entering 2025.
Yet not everyone is sold. As Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated notes, Stafford’s efficiency dropped, and the Rams overperformed their underlying metrics. “They finished 19th in the league in net yards per play,” he wrote, suggesting a regression may be looming.
The Los Angeles Rams’ Path Forward — With or Without Stafford
The Rams have quietly transitioned to a “year-to-year” arrangement with Stafford. With a first-place schedule in 2025 and division rival San Francisco expected to bounce back, L.A. is no lock for the postseason. In fact, DraftKings lists the Rams at +130 to miss the playoffs.
But the Rams also hold two first-round picks in 2026, giving GM Les Snead future flexibility. Should things unravel this season, a soft reset could be in the cards.
Still, 20 wins over the last two years with a reshuffled roster shows that Stafford is more than a bridge — he’s still the engine. The MVP odds may be long, but the respect among players is real.
“He gets overlooked as one of the better quarterbacks of the decade,” one AFC defensive coordinator told Verderame. “He’s as accurate as anyone, can make all the throws, and is as smart as they come.”
For Stafford and the Rams, the upside is obvious. But the floor? It’s closer than ever.
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