Feb 16, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford during the Super Bowl LVI championship rally at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Rams won Super Bowl LVI last month and a big part of how they got there and why they won was quarterback Matthew Stafford. And now they’re probably going to pay for it…though they’re likely more than happy to do so.

Stafford’s storybook season saw the longtime Detroit Lions QB come to LA via trade and lead the Rams to their first Super Bowl win since 1999. The veteran is entering the final year of his contract, which has a $23 million cap hit. Since Los Angeles really wants to try to hold onto as many pieces of their championship roster as possible so they can “run it back,” it’s in their best interest to sign Stafford to an extension and restructure the contract.

Per Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic, doing so is a “priority” this offseason and the eventual deal “could go as high as $45 million per year.”

Rodrigue notes that it’s very likely the actual number could come in a bit lower, perhaps closer to $35 million per year, along with some special considerations like giving Stafford some input into how the roster evolves. While the quarterback was extremely valuable to the franchise, a $45 million per year deal would match Patrick Mahomes for the largest yearly NFL salary, which doesn’t quite sound right.

Still, even though Stafford is older at 34 years old, he’s coming off a season in which he put up 4,886 passing yards and 41 touchdowns en route to a Super Bowl win.

The massive contract numbers certainly got a lot of people talking on social media regarding whether or not the QB is worth it and what it would mean for the Rams and other NFL franchises.

Between Von Miller’s cryptic social media posts and the need to figure out Aaron Donald’s and Odell Beckham Jr’s situation, the Rams certainly have their hands full this off-season. If they can get Matthew Stafford sorted out and relieve some of their cap concerns, it’ll go a long way towards them running it back.

[Jourdan Rodrigue]

About Sean Keeley

Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Editorial Strategy Director for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.