Pushing the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles to the limit in the divisional round, the Los Angeles Rams entered the offseason in a familiar position — right back in the NFC’s contender tier. But with Matthew Stafford’s contract demands hanging over everything, the franchise faced a fundamental question: run it back with its Super Bowl–winning quarterback, or brace for life after him?
As ESPN’s Ben Solak put it, the difference between Stafford and Jimmy Garoppolo is the difference between being must-watch and being a “grotesque” curiosity.
“The Rams with Matthew Stafford at quarterback are extremely watchable,” Solak wrote. “Everyone loves watching Stafford. Big arm, making tough plays, gritty dude, no-look passes, side-arm releases. Think about how fun that Rams team was to watch down the stretch last season, with fourth-quarter drives against the Eagles in the snow and the defensive line takeover moments.
The Rams with Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback are still watchable, just in a much more grotesque way. Watching an offensive mastermind squeeze a functional offense out of Garoppolo lost its shine in the early 2020s, when Kyle Shanahan was authoring playoff runs that eventually ended when Garoppolo got hurt or exposed. Can McVay do the same four years later? I’m curious to find out, even if I’d prefer one last stouthearted Stafford year.”
Stafford’s Staying Power
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That “stouthearted Stafford year” almost didn’t happen. Trade rumors swirled for months after Los Angeles gave its veteran quarterback permission to explore a relocation. The Giants and Raiders each worked out contract frameworks that would have paid Stafford in the $90–100 million guaranteed range, with whispers of offers near $55 million per year. Even Tom Brady got involved, speaking with Stafford directly during the Raiders’ pitch.
Ultimately, the Rams held leverage with no-trade protection absent from Stafford’s contract, and Sean McVay’s presence helped keep the veteran tied to Los Angeles. The team boosted Stafford’s guarantees — $40 million locked in for 2025 and additional carrots for 2026 — while maintaining a potential off-ramp if his injuries finally catch up with him.
For the Rams, keeping Stafford wasn’t just sentimentality. His late-season play proved he still has the juice to elevate McVay’s system rather than merely survive in it. In an NFC that feels more wide-open than ever, Stafford gives L.A. a chance at another deep playoff push.
The Garoppolo Question
If Stafford falters? Then Solak’s grotesque thought experiment comes into play.
Garoppolo re-signed in March, one day after the Rams landed Davante Adams. It was an eyebrow-raising sequence, given that Adams himself had effectively called for Garoppolo’s benching in Las Vegas. And yet, in Los Angeles, the Rams see Garoppolo as a high-floor contingency plan — someone who knows how to operate within a scheme heavy on timing and rhythm, even if he no longer inspires much confidence as a postseason driver.
The problem, as Solak points out, is that we’ve seen this movie before. Shanahan wrung multiple playoff runs out of Garoppolo in San Francisco, only for the rides to end in injury or ceiling-lowering mistakes. Asking McVay to run the same treadmill four years later feels more sideshow than strategy.
High Stakes in Hollywood
All of this makes the Rams one of the league’s most fascinating teams to track in 2024. Stafford’s health — already complicated by a training camp back issue — determines whether Los Angeles remains a bona fide Super Bowl contender or morphs into Solak’s “grotesque” curiosity.
There is also the matter of succession. The Rams’ draft moves suggest they’re at least glancing toward the future, with Stafford’s contract structured to allow for a post-2025 pivot. But until that day arrives, it’s Stafford-or-bust.
The supporting cast, at least, is championship-ready. Adams joins Puka Nacua to give the Rams another top-flight receiver duo. Kyren Williams earned a three-year extension after leading the NFL in rushing yards per game. The defense, though still searching for its next Aaron Donald, remains disruptive up front.
But in the NFL, nothing matters more than the quarterback. With Stafford, the Rams are dangerous, fun, and as watchable as anyone. With Garoppolo, they may still be worth watching — but only in the way you can’t quite look away from a car wreck.
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