Matthew Stafford will be back as the Los Angeles Rams’ quarterback in 2026, announcing his return during his MVP acceptance speech last week. That much we know.
What isn’t so clear is whether Stafford will play on his current contract.
The Rams tweaked his deal last offseason after allowing Stafford to explore the market with other teams. Despite getting offered $20 million more by the Raiders and Giants, who were willing to pay him $100 million for two years, Stafford returned to the Rams for $40 million per year.
Next season will be the last year of his contract and it’s reasonable to think he’ll be seeking another raise. After all, he did win MVP and lead the Rams to the NFC title game. Looking at the current landscape of quarterback contracts puts into perspective what a bargain Stafford is.
There are 10 quarterbacks set to earn more than Stafford’s $40 million in 2026. These are the cash earned figures next season, not average annual salaries (via Over The Cap).
Tagovailoa and Murray are both likely to be cut or traded this offseason. And Watson is, well, in his own category of bad quarterback contracts.
Still, it’s easy to make the case that Stafford should be in the $50 million range instead of $40 million. That’s what he was offered by the Giants and Raiders last year, so teams would be willing to pay him at least that much.
It’s just a matter of whether Stafford wants to push for more money entering his 18th NFL season. He’s already the highest-earning player in league history at more than $408 million. Maybe he’s content with the money he’s made and won’t ask for a raise.
One thing’s for sure: He deserves a bump in pay. He was the best quarterback in the NFL last season and $40 million is a steal for the Rams.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: QB salary rankings show Matthew Stafford is deserving of a raise
Reporting by Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
