The Los Angeles Rams and Matthew Stafford are working on a new extension, but there is a strong chance he may be setting up a multi-year extension.
There has been plenty said about the Los Angeles Rams taking Ty Simpson with the No. 13 overall pick. While the selection means that he will eventually replace Matthew Stafford, that appears not to happen anytime soon.
In fact, the updates regarding Stafford and the Rams hammering out an extension have slowed. Considering his younger counterpart was just drafted, the reigning MVP could be trying to set up a multi-year deal.
The issue that Stafford has had over the past few seasons is that he has essentially been on a year-to-year basis, and there were reports that his new deal would be something similar. However, the arrival of Simpson could have altered plans in a dramatic way.
Stafford initially surprised everyone when he announced at NFL Honors that he would be returning to play in 2026, after there was a strong narrative going that he would walk away. After 17 seasons, it would make sense for him to hang up his cleats.
Then again, the Rams still have one of the strongest rosters in the league, and were arguably a couple of plays away from representing the NFC in the Super Bowl.
If Stafford does intend to play past 2026, he will have to work on some guarantees in his contract, especially if injuries are to occur. He experienced back spasms during the 2025 offseason that kept him out of training camp.
Not only did those spasms not affect him, but Stafford put together the best season of his career. Now, he has the chance to return with nearly the same roster to make another deep playoff run.
Stafford is a huge competitor, and it would not be the least bit surprising for him to want to play past 2026 to capitalize not only on the twilight years of his career but also capitalize on the roster that he is leading.
A good majority of the players on the Rams roster are Pro Bowl and All-Pro talents. It would be a bit strange for Stafford to want to walk away from that, especially if he is still playing at a high level.
Simpson's arrival may also be pushing Stafford into wanting a multi-year deal, which would only protect him down the line. Sure, he may not play past 2026, but hammering out a deal that would give him the wiggle room to decide that would benefit him in a major way.
NFL contracts are all about guaranteed money, and the usual restructuring that Stafford engages in with Los Angeles typically comes down to that.
It would not be the least bit surprising if Stafford were to ask for a three-year deal, that essentially acts as a two-year deal, and the third being an opt-out opportunity.
Considering his star power and the way that he has also been playing, it would be a bit silly for the Rams not to work with him to keep him under center for more than just the 2026 season.
Granted, the draft did not improve the roster by great lengths, but no rookie drafted is guaranteed to be an impact player. It often takes two to three seasons for them to truly emerge as either a hit or a so-so playmaker.
Also, Simpson may have been drafted high in the first round to eventually be under center, but there is no reality where he replaces Stafford. The likelier situation is that he will sit and learn under one of the NFL's best quarterbacks for at least the next two years.
The situation becomes a win-win for the Rams, as they see if Stafford continues to play at a high level and gives the team the best shot at competing for a Super Bowl, and Simpson gets valuable knowledge from one of the league's best passers. Also, he gets to be coached by Sean McVay, which is a huge bonus in and of itself.
Stafford may have been acting on a year-to-year deal lately, but signs are pointing to him protecting his own career by getting a multi-year deal that guarantees he remains under center and gets paid at the value that he deserves.