Rams, QB Matthew Stafford reach agreement on contract adjustment

LOS ANGELES — More than three hours late for his scheduled media availability at the start of training camp here at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay had a good reason for his tardiness.

He was working behind the scenes to make quarterback Matthew Stafford happy, which in turn helps a team that NFL observers expect to compete for another postseason berth. 

When he finally emerged, McVay confirmed that Rams brass had worked with Stafford's agent, Jimmy Sexton, and the two sides came to an agreement on a contract adjustment for the 36-year-old signal-caller. 

Stafford has three years remaining on a four-year, $160 million contract, none of which is guaranteed beyond this season. Stafford's $40 million average annual salary ranks No. 14 in the league.

Stafford's desire to sweeten his contract makes sense. After all, the guy he replaced in L.A., Detroit QB Jared Goff, recently received a four-year, $212 million deal that makes him the third-highest paid quarterback in the league at $53 million annually. 

According to reports, Stafford wanted more guaranteed money added to his deal. McVay, however, declined to specifically address details of the new agreement.

The Rams had some urgency to get something done with Stafford. Backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will miss the first two games of the season due to an NFL suspension for violating the league's drug policy, and second-year pro Stetson Bennett spent all of last season on the non-football injury list working on his mental health.

"We were able to have an understanding of what was important," McVay said. "We were able to articulate both perspectives, and I think the most important thing was coming to a solution and finding common ground.

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