The Los Angeles Rams are expected to pick up the star quarterback Matthew StaffordSources told ESPN that the 2023 option bonus and 2024 salary will be announced by the third day of the league year.
The option bonus and 2024 salary will pay Stafford a combined $62 million in guaranteed funds.
If they decided not to pick the option, the Rams could have designated Stafford as a casualty post-June 1, which would have counted him $13.5 million toward their salary cap in 2023 and an additional $36 million in 2024.
But Stafford, who faced questions about his possible retirement after missing the last seven games for the Rams, will return for at least one season to play under coach Sean McVay, who will also return to Los Angeles in 2023.
McVay said in his press conference at the end of the season that he would take the “appropriate time” to decide on his future, but the Rams announced Friday that he will remain their coach.
The Rams are coming off a 5-12 season — McVay’s worst losing campaign since being hired by Los Angeles in 2017 — as they’ve dealt with numerous injuries, including Stafford, a wide receiver cooper cup and defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
Stafford, who turns 35 next month, finished the season on reserve with a spinal cord contusion and was twice out of concussion protocol. The former Pro Bowler reiterated this week that he’s not really considering retiring while dealing with injuries and feels “really comfortable and confident going forward.”