Getty Image / Ronald Martinez
After an awful 2022 season, there were plenty of reasons to wonder if the Los Angeles Rams would start break-in up the group that had just won a Super Bowl last season.
Now it is starting to look like they’ll be staying together for at least a little bit longer.
Yesterday, it was revealed that head coach Sean McVay would be returning amid rumors that he could retire and move on to broadcasting.
Today it is being reported that another key piece of that Super Bowl team will be back for the 2023 season.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Rams have decided they will pick up Matthew Stafford’s option bonus and 2024 salary, which will both become fully guaranteed on the 3rd day of the league year.
Now that Sean McVay has decided to return to the Rams for 2023, Matthew Stafford will be next. The Rams are expected to pick up Stafford’s 2023 option bonus and 2024 salary – a combined $62 million guaranteed – by the third day of the league year.https://t.co/9zLMCEDDB9
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 14, 2023
It’s a pretty big vote of confidence from the Los Angeles Rams organization. Despite adding Allen Robinson to the receiving corps, Stafford wasn’t nearly as effective this season as he was in 2021.
This season, Stafford threw just 10 touchdown passes while also throwing 8 interceptions and struggled to find much rapport with any receiver not named Cooper Kupp.
Unfortunately for the Rams, they’ve put themselves in a position where they have to continue pushing to win right now as they’ve dealt away a ton of draft capital over the last few years to build this Super Bowl-winning roster.
If they are going to hold off on what will be a difficult rebuild, they’re going to need Stafford to return to at least come close to being the quarterback he was last season.
If that doesn’t happen, the Rams Super Bowl window will have officially closed after just one year as a contender.