Rams respect QB Matthew Stafford's year-to-year status

Matthew Stafford required only three weeks to accomplish what the 37-year-old quarterback and the Los Angeles Rams needed seven months to accomplish last offseason: agreeing to a new contract.

The Rams modified Stafford's contract for the 2025 season, added guarantees for the 2026 league year and respected his sense of urgency to shorten the offseason drama head coach Sean McVay said brought on too many sleepless nights last spring.

"Maybe it'll (take) about two, three days next year if we have to do this," McVay said of the second February in a row investing time into the contract status of his quarterback.

"We've taken it a year at a time, and he's earned the right I believe," McVay said. "To be able to say he can play for a few more years if that's what he wanted. But we've always had great dialogue, and I really think it's been a year-to-year thing. He's obviously 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."

Stafford and McVay agreed the "end goal" both sides had in mind was a contract for a fifth season together -- 2025 -- to get a firm grasp of the franchise's bottom line as they began reshaping the team in free agency.

The next priority was a three-year deal with left tackle Alaric Jackson, who signed Friday two weeks before he could've bolted in free agency.

McVay said the Rams are still actively talking about their approach to the limbo around wide receiver Cooper Kupp. There is no deadline for either side, but Kupp is aware the Rams have engaged other teams about a potential trade.

"We'll take it a day at a time," McVay said.

--Field Level Media