Getty Image / Brian Rothmuller
At this time last year, the Los Angeles Rams were the NFL’s defending champions and looked to be one of the favorites to make another deep playoff run.
They had also signed quarterback Matthew Stafford to a huge contract extension earlier in the offseason as a result of his strong first season with the organization.
This past season didn’t quite go according to plan.
The Rams struggled to a 5-12 record during the 2022 season and Stafford went through some major regression in the first half of the year.
Then he ended up missing the last 7 games of the season.
This offseason, the mood in LA was a whole lot different than it was a year ago.
The Rams started moving on from veteran talent and clearing up cap space.
They moved on from Jalen Ramsey, Bobby Wagner, Leonard Floyd, and Allen Robinson.
It turns out that they were also trying to move on from one more key veteran.
According to former NFL GM Michael Lombardi, the Rams tried with a lot of effort to trade Stafford this offseason before his option bonus kicked in.
"Before his option bonus was kicking in the Rams attempted with a lot of effort to move Matthew Stafford..
Any team could've had him but you had to absorb the $59M" ~ @mlombardiNFL #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/uDQ5NTve5Q
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) July 7, 2023
“When his option bonus was getting ready to kick in, they attempted with a lot of effort to trade him,” Lombardi said. “Any team could’ve had him. The problem was you had to absorb the $59 million.”
Unfortunately for the Rams, it seems nobody was all that interested in a 35-year old quarterback with a massive contract who dealt with injury issues last year.
They’ll head into the 2023 season with the hope that Stafford can get back on track and turn the team back into a contender.
Otherwise, the Los Angeles Rams could be heading for a rebuild next offseason and once again looking for a trade partner for Matthew Stafford.