Matthew Stafford

NFL Contract Details: Stafford, White, Moss

May 14th, 2025 at 10:04pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are recently released details on deals from around the NFL:

Matthew Stafford, QB (Rams): Two years, $84MM. This restructured deal was announced two weeks ago, but the details were just recently announced, including $40MM of guaranteed money. $4MM of the $84MM comes in the form of a roster bonus paid out in March, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. The remaining $80MM is split evenly over the next two seasons with $16MM base salaries and four $6MM bonuses ($24MM total) in each year. The bonus structure gives Los Angeles a bit of flexibility with the salary cap. The $40MM from 2025 is what makes up the guaranteed amount, and the 2026 $40MM fully guarantees on the fifth day of the new league year. On The Breer Report, Breer also mentioned that the new deal pays out $26MM more than Stafford was set to earn through 2026 and that Stafford essentially turned down what could’ve been deals from the Raiders and Giants for over $50MM per year in order to remain with the Rams in 2025.
Tre’Davious White, CB (Bills): One year, $3MM. The new deal for the veteran defender was reportedly worth up to $6.8MM. Now that we know the base value of the contract is only $3MM, we can see how much the incentives of the deal are worth, per Howard Balzer of CardsWire. White’s deal contains $2.2MM of guaranteed money, composed of his $1MM signing bonus and $1.2MM of his 2025 base salary (worth $1.56MM in total). White will have non-cumulative playing time-based incentives — $500K for 45% of defensive snaps, $750K for 55%, $1MM for 65%, $1.5MM for 75%, and $2.25MM for 90% — and non-cumulative interception-based incentives — $250K for two interceptions, $500K for three, $750K for four, and $1MM for five. Lastly, he’ll earn a per game active roster bonus of $20K for a potential season total of $340K.
Zack Moss, RB (Bengals): One year, $1.7MM. Like Stafford, Moss is another restructured deal. Previously set to earn $3.47MM for the 2025 season, Moss took a pay cut to hopefully avoid being a cap casualty and increase his guaranteed money for the year. The guaranteed money Moss added on the deal was a $375K signing bonus. He’ll also earn a $9K per game active roster bonus for a potential season total of $155K.

Rams Finalize Matthew Stafford Restructure

May 5th, 2025 at 9:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

After a new round of speculation about his future – tied not to his desire about playing in 2025, but rather where he would do so – Matthew Stafford and the Rams reached agreement on another restructure. Now, that deal is officially in place.

Team and player finalized the new agreement over the weekend, as first reported by Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. Per the teams of the pact, Stafford will collect $44MM in 2025 along with $40MM the following year. That $84MM total stands in sharp contrast to the $58MM which was originally owed over the next two years (although it falls well short of the top of the QB market)

Stafford’s future has been considered year-to-year by Los Angeles, but the team’s latest raise notably included $56MM in full guarantees. That figure consists of the remaining $40MM to be paid out for this season, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, along with an additional $16MM in 2026. Rapoport adds that Stafford’s ’26 compensation will vest provided he remains on the roster by the start of free agency next spring.

For the past four years, Stafford has operated as the Rams’ starter. After helping lead the team to the Super Bowl during his debut Los Angeles campaign, the former No. 1 pick was limited to nine games the following year. Stafford has remained durable since then, and the Rams’ continued decision not to draft a successor indicates their confidence he will continue to operate at a high level moving forward.

The 37-year-old received permission to gauge his market this offseason, but no trade agreement was struck with suitors like the Giants or Raiders. As a result, Stafford and the Rams will look to build off the success of the 2024 campaign with stability under center for at least another two years. Given the length of this latest restructure, team and player will no doubt welcome the lack of questions regarding Stafford’s short-term outlook.

Matthew Stafford’s Rams Reworking Includes Guarantee Bumps

April 30th, 2025 at 11:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Rams and Matthew Stafford agreed on another reworked deal earlier this year, ending the trade storyline and ensuring the talented quarterback would return for a fifth season in Los Angeles. Some details on the QB’s contract adjustment have finally surfaced.

Stafford is still tied to a $40MM-per-year deal, but the Rams are boosting his guarantee total by a significant degree. Of the $80MM remaining on the contract, Stafford will see $56MM fully guaranteed, according to OverTheCap. This updated package includes $20MM guaranteed this year and, more significantly regarding the QB’s future, $16MM guaranteed in 2026.

It would now cost the Rams $35.37MM in 2026 dead money were they to trade Stafford before June 1 next year. The team also dropped Stafford’s cap number to $40.97MM via the use of void years. While Stafford’s contract still runs through 2026, eight void years are now included in the deal. They will spread out Stafford’s option bonuses through 2027, per OverTheCap. The QB’s 2025 cap hit was to be $49.67MM before this adjustment.

It took some doing to reach this point. The Rams allowed Stafford to explore trades, and the Giants and Raiders (among others) expressed interest to the point they had high-guarantee packages ready. New York and Las Vegas stayed in this race until the end, when the 37-year-old QB opted not to venture into an uncertain situation. After all, Sean McVay has played a big part in elevating the former No. 1 pick’s profile due to the team success the Rams have achieved since the January 2021 trade. Stafford leaving his L.A. setup to be part of less talented Giants or Raiders teams did not make that much sense, but the QB has sought a better deal in each of the past two offseasons. This included a $50MM-per-year ask this offseason. Rather than go there, the Rams will instead lock in much of the QB’s money remaining on his current contract.

Stafford landed here because he gave the Rams a discount upon signing a four-year, $160MM extension in 2022. The Super Bowl LVI winner could have pushed for more, given his status and where the market was headed at that time, but he left money on the table to help the Rams build a better roster around him. This soon led to the team rewarding Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald. Stafford, however, likely grew to regret his decision — based on two years of angling for better arrangements.

The Giants were prepared to give Stafford a deal that included at least $50MM in per-year salary, while the Raiders’ Tom Brady-powered push was also believed to be high on guarantees. Both teams were viewed as willing to guarantee Stafford at least $90MM over two years. The Rams have not done that, but the QB opted for comfort over uncertainty.

Those teams’ pursuits make this year’s Stafford reworking a more player-friendly adjustment compared to 2024, when the Rams agreed to move $5MM from future years into his ’24 package. This adjustment also included a $4MM roster bonus. The 2025 redo brings a much bigger commitment, which Stafford has been seeking from the Rams. It would seem likely the sides will be at it again in 2025, though the experienced passer is not assured of playing beyond this season. The updated guarantee numbers would provide a better reason to do so, however.

No strong retirement rumors have emerged just yet, however, and Stafford has bounced back from his injury-plagued 2022 to reestablish his value. The Rams also did not draft a quarterback this year, continuing to delay their search for an heir apparent. That decision and this contract reworking illustrates the team remains a Stafford-centric operation.

Rams Continuing Year-To-Year Approach With Matthew Stafford

April 8th, 2025 at 4:47pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Rams are continuing a year-to-year approach with Matthew Stafford after signing him to a restructured deal that will keep him in Los Angeles for the 2025 season.

The team is expecting to revisit his contract every year as he considers retiring or returning to the field as one of the league’s longest-tenured players, per Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic.

Rams vice president of football and business administration Tony Pastoors said that Stafford’s annual contract review is a “good problem to have.”

“If you’ve got a quarterback, you’ve got a chance,” said Pastoors (via Rodrigue). “And we’ve got a really good one.”

General manager Les Snead said that retaining Stafford will push the Rams towards a “win-now” approach in April’s draft, making it less likely that the team will use a premium pick on a quarterback.

“Always open to drafting a quarterback,” Snead said, but he added that teams with a more immediate need under center tend to take quarterbacks higher than the Rams value them. He also acknowledged the possibility that another team could trade up to Los Angeles’ first-round pick (No. 26 overall) to draft a quarterback.

Head coach Sean McVay said that drafting a quarterback was “unlikely,” per Sports Illustrated’s Brock Vierra.

“I’ll be honest with you, I haven’t done a whole lot of work on the quarterbacks,” continued McVay. “I feel really good about where our quarterback room is.”

The Rams’ quarterback room currently consists of Stafford, veteran Jimmy Garoppolo and 2023 fourth-rounder Stetson Bennett. Garoppolo is on a one-year deal, while Bennett has two years remaining on his rookie contract. Since Stafford has stated a desire to play beyond 2025, the team doesn’t seem to be in any rush to find his successor.

Giants Eyed Mason Rudolph As QB Option

March 20th, 2025 at 11:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

It is unclear where the Giants reside in the Aaron Rodgers race, but most indications do not have them in the lead. The Vikings may well have been in front, and their decision to stand down for the time being may not accelerate Rodgers’ interest in taking a Pittsburgh or New York off-ramp anytime soon.

The Giants and Steelers will understandably want clarity soon, as we are winding down the second week of free agency. While these teams are competing for Rodgers, they also waged a lower-stakes battle for a backup recently. As the Giants have met with both Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo notes they were also wanting to speak with Mason Rudolph. The Steelers foiled those plans.

Rudolph agreed to return to Pittsburgh after a season in Tennessee, rejoining the Steelers on a two-year, $8MM deal. Rudolph closed the 2023 season as Pittsburgh’s starter, usurping Kenny Pickett, but he is not expected to reprise that role — at least, that does not appear Plan A or Plan B for the AFC North team. But Rudolph represents insurance in the event the Rodgers proceedings do not go Pittsburgh’s way.

It appears the Giants assessed this situation similarly, and it is certainly worth noting that Rudolph appeared on their radar as a backup option as Drew Lock remains in free agency. While a generally erratic passer, the former Broncos starter did deliver an impressive effort in an upset win over the Colts. He spent last season in Brian Daboll‘s system and is among the top QB options left unsigned. Rudolph made five Titans starts last season, going 1-4 and finishing with a 9:9 TD-INT ratio. This still secured the former third-round pick a raise — up from a one-year, $2.87MM Tennessee deal — for 2025.

A Rudolph signing would have likely preceded a flood of rumors tying the Giants to a first-round quarterback pick. Had New York’s Matthew Stafford plan worked, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan writes the team would have been unlikely to add an early-round QB as a developmental option (subscription required). It is then worth wondering if a Rodgers addition would impede the Giants in an effort to draft a first-round QB.

Although the Giants are desperate for a long-term solution, Rodgers would become a surefire starter. And he may not be overly eager to join a team that would identify his replacement weeks after signing him. With Rodgers turning 42 before year’s end, such luxuries may not be afforded. After all, Daboll and Joe Schoen are on scorching-hot seats. Still, the Giants landing Rodgers may make them less inclined to use their No. 3 overall pick on a QB. Wilson, Winston or Joe Flacco joining the team, though, may not quiet noise about a Round 1 investment at the position.

Rudolph, 29, may soon be either Rodgers or Wilson’s backup. The seven-year veteran played that role behind Ben Roethlisberger and had fallen to the third-stringer during Mitchell Trubisky‘s stopover. The latter struggling led Rudolph into the Steelers’ lineup. Until Rodgers decides, however, Rudolph’s true outlook remains a bit foggy ahead of his second stint in Pittsburgh.

Rams QB Matthew Stafford Intends To Play In 2026; Team To Retain TE Tyler Higbee, RT Rob Havenstein For 2025

March 16th, 2025 at 9:28pm CST by Rory Parks

Before the Matthew Stafford sweepstakes got underway this offseason, a competition in which the Raiders and Giants emerged as the top contenders to acquire the Rams’ Super Bowl-winning quarterback via trade, Stafford first had to determine whether he was even going to continue his playing career in 2025. A little over a week after Los Angeles’ divisional-round loss to the Eagles, Stafford told his club he would not be retiring.

Both player and team knew after their 2024 restructure that Stafford’s contract would need to be revisited again if their relationship was to continue, and this year, the Rams gave the veteran passer permission to speak with other teams to determine his value. Although both Las Vegas and New York were prepared to part with draft capital and authorize a two-year contract featuring up to $100MM in guarantees, Stafford decided to stay with the Rams on another reworked pact.

Head coach Sean McVay recently confirmed that, just as the parties did last year, compensation due later in Stafford’s contract was accelerated to this season, and that is what facilitated an agreement. The exact financial details are not yet known, but what is clear is that Stafford’s thru-2026 deal was not extended. As such, if and when the parties find themselves in the same position next offseason – which McVay expects – there will be no more future years from which to borrow money. In other words, an actual extension and/or raise will need to be hammered out to keep Stafford with the Rams in 2026 and perhaps beyond.

Of course, that assumes the 37-year-old passer will want to keep playing in 2026. While a player’s thoughts can always change, Stafford does not sound as if he intends to again contemplate retirement after the upcoming campaign.

On a recent episode of Travis and Jason Kelce’s New Heights podcast, Stafford said, “I’m going to be [with the Rams] at least another year, and hopefully some after that” (via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk).

Stafford went on to call this offseason’s uncertainty “a little nerve-wracking,” and though such uncertainty appears to await next year as well, it may be entirely contract-related rather than retirement-related. Although Stafford always preferred to remain with McVay and the team that has employed him for the last four seasons, his use of the word “hopefully” indicates he still may not finish his career with the Rams.

The beyond-2025 futures of Los Angeles TE Tyler Higbee and RT Rob Havenstein are also uncertain, as both players are entering platform years. McVay recently confirmed, however, that both will be back with the club this season (via Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic).

As Rodrigue notes, the fact that Higbee and Havenstein have one season left on their existing deals warranted such confirmation from the head coach (as did the fact that both of them are coming off injury-impacted seasons). Higbee, 32, has operated as the Rams’ full-time starter at tight end since 2017, but he sustained a torn ACL and MCL in the 2023 postseason that delayed his start to the 2024 slate (he also suffered a chest injury in this year’s wildcard round, though he returned for the divisional-round matchup, catching seven balls for 54 yards and a score).

Havenstein, who is entering his age-33 season, has been a stalwart at right tackle since joining the Rams as a second-round pick in 2015. He has never earned a Pro Bowl or All-Pro nod, but he has started all 141 games in which he has appeared and has consistently generated good to excellent marks from Pro Football Focus. His return will be key for an aging QB and a team that has designs on another postseason run.

Sean McVay Addresses Matthew Stafford’s New Rams Deal

March 3rd, 2025 at 3:42pm CST by Adam La Rose

Matthew Stafford represented a notable trade target during the Combine, but in the end he and the Rams worked out a new agreement. The exact details on that front are still not known, but Sean McVay confirmed on Monday Los Angeles accelerated compensation which was due later in Stafford’s pact.

The team took that same route last summer, and in the wake of the first restructure McVay noted the team viewed Stafford’s future on a year-to-year basis. To no surprise, then, the Super Bowl-winning head coach said (via Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic) he expects all parties to find themselves in the same situation again next offseason. Stafford remains under contract through 2026, but his future beyond the coming year is unclear with no extension being worked out.

The 37-year-old was due $27MM in 2025 prior to this latest restructure being agreed to, but only $4MM of that figure was guaranteed (in the form of a roster bonus). His earnings for the coming season may not be known until free agency begins, but a raise taken from funds on his future seasons can be expected. Stafford’s cap charge – which currently sits at $49.67MM – could be altered as a result while the Rams look to make another playoff run in 2025.

“We’ve taken it a year at a time,” McVay said (via Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith). “I think he could play for a few more years if that’s what he wanted, but we’ve always had a great dialogue and I think it’s a year-to-year thing. He’s under contract for two more years with us but as long as he wants to play I know we’re feeling really good about that.”

The Rams allowed Stafford’s camp to explore a trade, and the Raiders and Giants emerged as strong suitors on that front. Both teams were prepared to part with draft capital (albeit not their 2025 first-round picks) and commit to a two-year pact featuring up to $100MM guaranteed. Stafford preferred to remain in Los Angeles and continue working with McVay, though, and that will be the case for at least one more year with the door clearly open to 2026 as well.

In the wake of the Rams’ divisional round loss, the former No. 1 pick was uncertain of his intention to continue playing in the NFL. McVay and the Rams made it clear they preferred to have clarity on his status on a much earlier timeline than 2024, and with a new pact in hand (providing a fresh round of immediate compensation) that goal has been achieved prior to free agency.

Matthew Stafford Notes: Timeline, McVay, Giants, Garoppolo

March 1st, 2025 at 10:01pm CST by Adam La Rose

The top storyline at the Combine saw a resolution come about on Friday. Matthew Stafford reached agreement on a new deal with the Rams, ending the chance of a trade being worked out which would have sent him to a new team for the second time in his career.

The Raiders and Giants made strong pushes to acquire the 37-year-old before a summit with Los Angeles yielded a new agreement. Once the restructured pact is in place, Stafford will be assured of playing at least the 2025 campaign, his fifth with the Rams. Financial terms are not yet known, and that will likely be the case for the time being.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports the new Stafford pact will be finalized over the coming weeks. A framework is clearly in place, and with financial clarity the Rams have already worked out a new deal with left tackle Alaric Jackson. Still, Rapoport notes the exact details – including Stafford’s compensation for 2025 and the cap structure of the contract – will likely not emerge until the start of the new league year later this month.

Here are some other notes related to yesterday’s major QB news:

It was learned shortly before the agreement was reached that Stafford and head coach Sean McVay had remained in communication through this process. To little surprise, the chance to remain with the Super Bowl winner was a key factor in a resolution being found. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer writes Stafford’s preference was to stay in Los Angeles and extend his partnership with McVay. The team went to the divisional round of the playoffs in 2024, and expectations will be high moving forward with continuity on the sidelines and under center.
The Raiders were seen as the likelier suitor to acquire Stafford when a trade was on the table, and parameters on a contract were reported to be in place. The Giants made a strong pursuit as well, though, and SNY’s Connor Hughes notes New York was prepared to swing a trade and commit to a contract worth more than $50MM per year (video link). The 16-year veteran has been connected to an asking price which would make him the oldest member of the group at that financial threshold. Taking the Giants’ interest one step further, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post confirms the team was willing to commit to a two-year pact including between $90MM and $100MM guaranteed. GM Joe Schoen will now look elsewhere on the veteran market.
In the event a trade had been made, Aaron Rodgers would have been a name to watch regarding replacement options for the Rams. Dianna Russini of The Athletic writes the 41-year-old would indeed have received consideration, adding the same would have been true of Jimmy Garoppolo (subscription required). The latter is a pending free agent after he took a one-year deal in 2024 to handle backup duties. He could be retained as a high-end QB2 option for next year; failing that, the Rams could turn to Stetson Bennett, who has yet to make a regular season NFL appearance.

Rams To Retain Matthew Stafford

February 28th, 2025 at 11:08pm CST by Adam La Rose

Speculation about Matthew Stafford‘s future is now over. The decorated quarterback will remain with the Rams for at least one more season.

A new, restructured deal was first reported to be agreed upon by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The team has since announced the news that Stafford is staying put. He will play a fifth season with the Rams.

Financial details have not yet emerged, but Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes this new Rams deal will be worth less than Stafford could have landed on a pact with a new team. A trade remained a distinct possibility once his camp received permission to find a trade partner, a development which came about amidst challenges with respect to working out another short-term arrangement. Team and player avoided a training camp holdout last year by increasing Stafford’s 2024 pay without adding new years (or future guarantees) to his pact.

As a result, the Super Bowl winner approached the new league year with $27MM in base pay scheduled, including a $4MM roster bonus due next month. Finding a resolution before that point represented a logical goal for all involved, and an agreement has in fact been made. The most recent reporting on this storyline – the dominant topic of conversation at the Combine – noted Stafford was set to speak with the Rams today.

To say the least, that summit has gone over quite well. Stafford will continue his tenure in Los Angeles, which has included a Super Bowl win and one of his two career Pro Bowls. He has continued to deal with a number of ailments during the second chapter of his NFL tenure, however, and in 2022 he was limited to only nine games played. The Georgia product has remained generally durable since then, but questions of availability will remain moving forward.

In the wake of the Rams’ divisional round loss, Stafford took time to contemplate his future. He quickly made it known he intended to continue playing in 2025, and Sean McVay and the Rams have repeatedly stated their desire to keep him in the fold. That will be the case in spite of numerous conversations taking place between Stafford’s camp and interested teams. In particular, the Raiders and Giants made pitches to work out a contract agreement in the hopes of then attempting to generate a suitable package of draft capital to send to Los Angeles.

Both Las Vegas and New York were believed to be prepared to make a two-year offer including between $90MM and $100MM in guarantees. That comes as little surprise considering Stafford was known to be angling for an AAV of $50MM on his next pact. The Rams were reportedly unwilling to meet that asking price, so it will be interesting to see how this new arrangement takes shape. If additional void years are included as part of today’s arrangement, Stafford’s 2025 cap hit ($49.67MM) could be reduced.

The Raiders and Giants will now be forced to look elsewhere at the QB position. Stafford represented a massive offseason domino at the position, and the effect today’s news has on the other experienced passer set to reach the market will be notable. With an underwhelming draft class looming, teams could move with urgency in March to secure short-term fixes under center.

Veteran backup Jimmy Garoppolo is a pending free agent, and his departure could lead to the Rams leaning on 2023 fourth-rounder Stetson Bennett (who has yet to play in the regular season) to handle QB2 duties. A Stafford successor is not in place in the organization, and his regression in statistical output from 2024 offers a warning sign that more could be coming in that regard moving forward. Nevertheless, McVay and the Rams will enjoy continuity atop the depth chart next season.

Giants Looking At Aaron Rodgers, Other Veteran QBs

February 28th, 2025 at 11:05pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

After their failed pursuit of Matthew Stafford, the Giants are “shifting their interest” to Aaron Rodgers, per The Athletic’s Diana Russini.

Rodgers has been reaching out to teams since the Jets decided to release him, including multiple calls to the Giants, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. The Giants have been discussing the possibility of signing Rodgers “all week,” according to Russini.

Acquiring Rodgers would be considerably less expensive than trading for Stafford. The Giants were prepared to give up significant draft capital and give Stafford a contract exceeding $50MM per year, per SNY’s Connor Hughes. Rodgers, meanwhile, will be a free agent once the Jets formalize his release with a post-June 1 designation. He is unlikely to command a top-of-the-market salary and signing him would not require the Giants to part with any draft picks.

Rodgers is not the Giants’ “leading candidate,” according to FOX Sports’ Ralph Vacciano. The team is discussing other free agent quarterbacks, per Hughes, including Russell Wilson, Sam Darnold, and Justin Fields. The Giants had interest in Darnold last offseason, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, but he was too expensive at the time. His value has certainly risen in the last year, but so has the Giants’ need for a quarterback.

After playing for four different teams over the last five years, Darnold may be looking for a long-term situation if he hits free agency. That could clash with the Giants’ vision for the position. They would prefer to pair a veteran signing with a top rookie from this year’s draft, according to Hughes.

Rodgers might fit better into those plans. The team views the four-time MVP as a “viable option” for one season, per Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. The Giants could then use a first-round pick on a quarterback prospect who would sit behind Rodgers as a rookie before taking over in 2026.

That rookie would likely be either Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward, who are generally considered the top two quarterbacks in the 2025 draft class. The Giants currently hold the No. 3 pick, but are exploring a trade with the Titans to acquire the first overall pick that they would then use on their preferred quarterback prospect.

Clearly, the Giants’ pursuit of a new quarterback remains fluid. Stafford was the first domino to fall, and other signings and trades will certainly impact the team’s plans. They will have to balance the financial investment of a free agent signing with the draft capital required to secure their top choice in April. The Falcons were criticized last year for signing Kirk Cousins to a massive contract in free agency and using the No. 8 pick on Michael Penix a month later. That has left Atlanta at an impasse with Cousins after moving to Penix during the season, something Schoen will likely consider as he navigates the quarterback market in free agency and the draft.

Load More Posts