Setting aside the fact that the Los Angeles Rams' extension of quarterback Matthew Stafford makes their choice of Ty Simpson in the first round even more questionable, the Seattle Seahawks' NFC West rival might be setting itself up for issues by 2027. LA is going to pay Stafford quite a lot.
His one-year extension for 2027 is for $55 million and is worth as much as $60 million with incentives. He will be 39 years old in the season after next, but he had his best season at age 37 when he threw for an NFL-leading 46 touchdowns and was named the league MVP. He is still going to be good in two years.
The potential problem, though, and surely one that the Rams have already thought of, is that they have many high-performing players who will want to get paid in 2027, too. The team's list of important free agents is vast.
The Los Angeles Rams' extension of Matthew Stafford could mean good things for Seattle Seahawks fans
That includes wide receiver Puka Nacua, guard Kevin Dotson, edge rusher Byron Young, defensive lineman Kobie Turner, and guard Steve Avila, among others. The Stafford extension hasn't been factored into contract sites like Over the Cap yet, and LA was expected to have $106 million in cap space in 2027, according to Spotrac, but that will go fast if the team signs its free agents.
The reality is that some of those players will leave for other teams, and the Rams have done a good job of drafting players to fit their system. Sean McVay is a fantastic head coach, and he is unlikely to be moving on from that position any time soon. This means LA will remain a thorn in the Seahawks' side.
But Los Angeles will be faced with some crucial financial decisions after 2026, and that would have been the case even if Stafford hadn't been offered an extension. His added year might only make the accountants for the Rams work a little bit harder.
The extension might also be a way for the team to say goodbye to a quarterback who has a very good case to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame after he retires. He will be 40 years old in the 2028 season, and he might choose to retire. The team might be ready to turn the offense over to Ty Simpson, too.
As for the Seattle Seahawks, the team is likely set at quarterback with Sam Darnold for many years to come. The defense will remain elite, too. Long after the Rams have tried to figure out their cap situation, Seattle is still going to be good.
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