Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has long carried the “gunslinger” label — a quarterback with the kind of arm talent that invites both highlight-reel throws and risky decisions. But to Davante Adams, one of the NFL’s most precise and cerebral wide receivers, Stafford’s reputation as a gunslinger isn’t about reckless abandon. It’s about trust, timing, and fearless execution.
“The main thing is, based on a couple plays we had today — he doesn’t care what the coverage says,” Adams said following an offseason practice with the Rams. “If they’re not playing it right, you still might get the ball.” That mindset — one where every route is live and every receiver must stay ready — forces defenses to stay honest in a way few quarterbacks demand.
This isn’t just about big arm throws into tight windows. It’s about approach. “It’s never just one of those ‘for the love of the game’ routes,” Adams explained, referencing the common concept where a receiver is asked to run a route knowing they won’t be targeted. “That’s not how he rolls.”
For a receiver, that changes everything. There’s no time to coast or assume. “You’ve got to be a dog to play that way,” Adams said. “You need a lot of confidence — in your arm and in the guy you’re throwing to.” That trust paid off in practice when Stafford hit Adams on a route he wasn’t expecting to get the ball on — and turned it into a catch-and-run opportunity.
Los Angeles Rams: Matthew Stafford’s Gunslinger Reputation Is More Than Just Arm Talent
When asked to compare Stafford’s arm to others, Adams sidestepped the cliché. “They can all throw hard — Aaron [Rodgers], Matt, Derek [Carr], even Jimmy [Garoppolo]. But it’s not just about throwing 100 mph fastballs every play. It’s about timing. That’s what separates quarterbacks,” he said.
That nuance is part of what makes Stafford unique. Yes, he can make any throw on the field. But it’s the way he blends that arm talent with pre-snap reads, confidence in his receivers, and a willingness to challenge defensive tendencies that keeps him in the elite tier.
Adams is still building chemistry with his new quarterback, but it’s already clear that Stafford’s leadership is as valuable as his arm. “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.”
Subscribe to LAFB Network’s Los Angeles Rams YouTube Channel