WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – He is coming off an MVP-winning season, playing the quarterback position at an elite level. But at 38 years old, the Rams have also been honest with themselves that they're closer than not to the day Matthew Stafford retires.
With Stafford in a year-to-year arrangement with the team on deciding his future after each season over the last two offseasons, an annual topic of conversation – especially at the peak of every mock draft cycle – has been whether Los Angeles needs to draft and develop a potential successor to QB1.
Speaking to reporters during a video conference Tuesday morning, general manager Les Snead indicated there's not an urgency to do so this offseason.
"I think I've mentioned it before," Snead said Tuesday. "We're always working through the scenarios. We're well aware Matthew's closer to retirement than not. Matthew and I had a fun text chain or call the night that Philip Rivers was playing a Thursday night game. He was on date night and I'm like, 'This guy's 44.' That was a joking thing, but let's call it like it is. We've all been honest on that. We're not desperate to. That's always a possibility, but it's not a desperate matter."
Rams head coach Sean McVay, also speaking to reporters Tuesday, echoed Snead's sentiments. They think about those things, and first talk with Stafford about what he's feeling, "and what you project as how much longer does he want to do it."
While the team is always thinking about those things, it's also important to take advantage of someone of his caliber while he's still playing.
"I'm not naive to how rare that is," McVay said. "All those things weigh into it. I think he's said it a lot. I think with the time Matthew missed last year, and it was such a cool reflection of his humility and just what a great, aware person Matthew is. It was tremendously valuable to have Jimmy (Garoppolo) take those reps. Where now, our defense that he's going against and the other 10 around him are still able to progress and be able to advance in a way that is reflective of how we want to operate. You better have somebody you feel really good about that can… whether Matthew is not able to go, can they play? Then looking towards the future but how we want to be able to approach it? That position is so vital for us to be able to allow Matthew to be at his best. That's why Jimmy was so important for us the last two years."
Stafford threw for a league-leading 4,707 passing yards and 46 passing touchdowns en route to his first career MVP award in 2025. Both Snead and McVay confirmed Tuesday they're in discussions with Stafford's representation about a contract adjustment, which they have given Stafford each of the last two offseasons.
Several mock drafts projected the Rams to select Alabama's Ty Simpson 29th overall, but that may change with that pick part of their trade package for Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie, according to multiple reports.
What could need to be addressed, however, is Stafford's backup. Garoppolo is a pending unrestricted free agent. McVay said Tuesday they would "love" for Garoppolo to return, but are understanding if Garoppolo decided to seek an opportunity elsewhere that gave him a chance to play.
For now, they're focused on maximizing QB1 for however long he'll continue to play.
"It's great (he's returning this season)," McVay said. "I think the cool thing is when you're as connected with him as I am, I think you have a good feel. You never know and you want to be able to let these guys make their own decisions that are best for them and their family, then for our team. I could tell how much fun and how present he was, and I think he was feeling good. He's obviously playing at an incredible clip. I was damn excited about it. I do think everything starts with that position and then you're able to be able to figure out what it looks like. You don't take for granted how lucky you are to have a guy like him running the show. That's why we want to do as good a job as we can and take advantage of these opportunities and with this group as a collective."
