Matthew Stafford, now 37, is back for another season with the Los Angeles Rams after signing a two-year, $8.4 million contract this offseason — a deal that includes $8 million guaranteed and pays an average of $4.2 million annually. But how much longer will he remain under center in L.A.?
NFL analyst Brad Gagnon believes the end could be near.
Analyst Projects Stafford- Los Angeles Rams Divorce Could Come Soon
In a May 9 article for Bleacher Report, Gagnon evaluated each NFL team’s urgency to find a new franchise quarterback following the 2025 NFL Draft. Using factors such as “age, trajectory, experience, contract, injury history and the state of the team,” Gagnon compiled a list of organizations likely in the quarterback market sooner than later. The Rams were one of them.
“Matthew Stafford is back for more, but there’s a good chance he’ll decide to hang ’em up after this season,” Gagnon wrote. “The Rams could also decide to move on from him if they don’t see the value in an expensive, past-his-prime quarterback who has a 91.8 passer rating since the start of 2022.”
Gagnon also identified the Pittsburgh Steelers as the team with the most urgent need for a quarterback — unsurprising given their uncertain situation and tenuous wait for Aaron Rodgers.
Stafford Still Earning Praise — and Bold Comparisons
Despite Gagnon’s outlook, not everyone is ready to move on from Stafford. In fact, The Herd host Colin Cowherd made a bold declaration during his May 7 episode — suggesting Stafford might ultimately surpass Aaron Rodgers in terms of legacy.
“Matthew Stafford is never going to struggle with egg prices. He could have struggled with a New York Giant’s offensive line. It’s a smart move,” Cowherd quipped.
“I’ve always had this theory that if Matt Stafford gets to another Super Bowl and wins — and I do think there’s about six teams that could do it, and the Rams are one of them — I think Stafford will be viewed historically better than Aaron Rodgers.”
Cowherd backed up his hot take with comparisons:
“Just go look at the numbers since the 2021 playoffs. Matt has become a much better playoff quarterback. They both have a Super Bowl. Matt was better than Aaron in high school, college, and the first four years of the NFL. And he’s been better the last four years.”
As the 2025 NFL season approaches — kicking off Thursday, September 4 — all eyes will be on Stafford. Whether this is a final run or the beginning of another chapter remains to be seen, but for fans in Detroit and Los Angeles alike, the storyline is still compelling.
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