Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford continues to turn heads as he heads deeper into his 30s. Stafford arguably is now the oldest quarterback who hasn’t seen his stock hit the dreaded cliff. Until that happens, the goal will remain to finish the year as the most respected quarterback in the NFL.
In one ranking, he didn’t get into the elite category, but he was close.
Writing in an article for Sports Illustrated, NFL analyst Matt Verderame placed Stafford at the top of the tier called “The Class of Very Good,” one place below the tier termed “Elite.”
“In 2024, Stafford was limited by the absence of Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, who missed 11 games between them, including Weeks 3-6 when both were inactive,” he wrote. “This autumn, Stafford should have Nacua alongside newcomer Davante Adams, who, despite being 32 years old, posted his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard season while splitting time between the Jets and Raiders last year.”
“With coach Sean McVay calling the plays and star running back Kyren Williams keeping defenses honest after a pair of 1,000-yard seasons, Stafford should have time and ample weaponry to find,” he added.
The choice to list Stafford as high as he did at sixth overall is worth noting as a positive, but it does leave room for improvement. Even more encouraging, the analyst appeared to open the door for a rise this season.
How Matthew Stafford Can Get Back To Elite Status
Of course, having consistent players around him won’t change anything on its own. Stafford will need to capitalize on having a fully healthy Puka Nacua as well as Davante Adams. Kyren Williams will also need to step up.
If the Rams win, Matthew Stafford will benefit in terms of national perception, which (perhaps unfairly) ranks wins above all.
Check Out Our Los Angeles Rams Merch And Gear Up Before The Season!
That said, statistics beyond that will need to be sharp, with likely at least 4,000 passing yards and 30 passing touchdowns. Matthew Stafford has hit those numbers before.
However, on top of that, he has to look good, hitting those marks, delivering several highlight eye-opening plays in 2025, including at least one in a primetime game in a big spot.
It could be a clutch no-look pass or a throw that splits two defenders through a hand-sized hole. It could even be a rare scramble to keep a critical late drive alive.
Put simply, it’s going to take wins, highlights, and statistics to rise to the top of quarterback rankings across the country.
Will Matthew Stafford prove that age is just a number in 2025? Drop a comment below, Ramily.