Rams’ Matthew Stafford future decided before NFC title vs Seahawks: Report

Matthew Stafford is having the best year of his possibly Hall of Fame career this campaign with the Los Angele Rams.

The 17-year veteran is the frontrunner for NFL MVP, already named first-team All-Pro QB, and is two games away from winning his second Super Bowl ring alongside head coach Sean McVay.

Will this be his final year, though?

Stafford has been open about his back struggles, and it almost kept him from beginning the season on the field following an offseason of uncertainty. Depending on how the season ends, could this be a final run for one of the league’s last remaining decade-plus veterans?

NFL senior insider Ian Rapoport believes he knows the answer.

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Per Rapoport, Stafford has already begun telling people around him in his inner circle that he has “some good football left in him” and is planning to return to the Rams regardless of how the season ends.

For Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead, that would be a massive first step in deciding their offseason plans. Alongside locking down superstar wide receiver Puka Nacua for the long term, the plan for who will be under center next year and for years to come is a priority.

Even if the Rams select a young QB in this upcoming NFL Draft, as they hold two first-round picks, Stafford’s return would allow them to not throw the green rookie into the line of fire for a team expected to contend for a title. It would also give them the option to use their draft capital on a non-QB, loading up the roster to provide Stafford with another premium chance for another deep run in the postseason.

Stafford is not thinking about next season, however, as he and the rest of the Rams enter enemy territory on Sunday to face the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship.

The two sides split the regular season 1-1, with both games coming down to the final play.