The Los Angeles Rams stunned most onlookers this 12 months by profitable the NFC West with a 10-7 file, although maybe their most spectacular outcome got here after they obliterated the 14-3 Minnesota Vikings within the Wild Card spherical by a remaining rating of 27-9.
Regardless of that profitable season, they appear ready to blow issues up this spring. Large receiver Cooper Kupp introduced that the crew plans to commerce him in some unspecified time in the future this offseason, whereas quarterback Matthew Stafford is at present speaking to different groups inquisitive about his companies.
On the heels of his looming retirement rumors which have now been kicked down the street, Stafford would symbolize an improve for a lot of groups on the lookout for a veteran quarterback in 2025. Ought to the Rams commerce him, although, they’ll be thrust right into a rebuild instantly after making the playoffs.
Louis Riddick Clowns Rams For Letting Matthew Stafford Speak With Different Groups
On ESPN’s “NFL Reside,” former NFL government Louis Riddick mentioned why the Rams’ determination to let Stafford search out a brand new house is such an enormous mistake for the franchise.
“That is mind-blowing to me for quite a lot of completely different causes. In the event you simply have a look at it, from Matthew’s time in Detroit to what he’s completed in Los Angeles, that’s sufficient proper there. You may cease proper there so far as saying you don’t mess with guys like this,” Riddick opined.
“You work stuff out. It’s not ‘if we’re going to,’ it’s ‘once we do,’ particularly contemplating the place L.A. is of their program constructing. You noticed how that regarded within the playoffs this previous 12 months — they’re proper there. You don’t have him there, you don’t know what sort of trickle-down impact that’s going to have on the crew total,” the analyst continued.
“I can’t think about he [Rams head coach Sean McVay] is saying, ‘Let’s simply play a recreation of rooster with a man who’s going to stroll proper into the Corridor of Fame when he’s finished.’”
“Let’s simply play a recreation of rooster with a man who’s going to stroll proper into the Corridor of Fame when he’s finished.”@LRiddickESPN thinks the Rams are making a giant mistake by letting Matthew Stafford speak to different groups
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— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) February 27, 2025
Stafford was his normal self throughout the common season, tallying 3,762 yards and 20 touchdowns. Nonetheless, his play within the absence of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua wasn’t excellent, resulting in a QB+ rating of 71.9, good for twenty second within the league.
Apart from the quantity of passing yards, Stafford didn’t stand out as spectacular on this recreation, which was his second-worst full-season QB+ since 2019. Each of these backside two have come within the final three years, elevating questions on whether or not his abilities are eroding as he enters his late 30s.
Nonetheless, within the Wild Card Spherical, the Rams handily took care of the Minnesota Vikings, with Stafford delivering a classic efficiency: 209 yards on simply 19 completions, together with two touchdowns.
Whereas Stafford’s counting stats weren’t spectacular, a lot of his fee stats confirmed enchancment in comparison with 2023.
He elevated his completion proportion from 62.6% in 2023 to 65.8% this season and improved his success fee from 47.6% to 49.0%. Moreover, he lowered his interception fee from 2.1% to 1.5%, the bottom of his profession (excluding the 2010 season, when he performed solely three video games).
Notably, the Rams’ signal-caller was lastly wholesome in 2024, marking the primary season since 2021 that he didn’t miss a recreation on account of harm. Nonetheless, he did sit out the crew’s Week 18 contest as a coach’s determination.
In the end, Stafford is a much better possibility for groups than some other veterans obtainable on the place this offseason, together with Sam Darnold, the quarterback he bested within the playoffs. On this occasion, Riddick is true on the cash in his chastisement of the Rams’ franchise for his or her dealing with of this example.
