Even as the LA Rams pivot from 2023 to 2024, there is no question that to flourish this season, the team needs veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford under center. Until recently, he was the only realistic option to start at the position for the team. But thanks to growing concerns over his health (he’s missed games in the past two seasons due to injury), and some less-than-positive experiences with a lesser qualified backup quarterback forced to start, the team has finally entered an NFL season with a respectable backup on the roster as well, former 49ers starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

In fact, no matter which angle you hold this team up to the light, the Rams quarterback room may be in the best shape it has ever been for Head Coach Sean McVay. So why are fans and the media focusing on Stafford before the season gets underway? Well, it’s a perfect storm. Here’s what I mean

The LA Rams know that Stafford needs a strong offensive line at this stage of his career, and have certainly invested in the group at a pace not seen before under Coach McVay. The better the offensive line plays, the better Matthew Stafford seems to play, as reflected in Matthew Stafford’s 2023 NFL season Pro Bowl honors, only the second time in his career with those accolades.

Buoyed by the resurgence in his on-field production, but facing the depletion of his guaranteed money to his contract, Matthew Stafford has expressed to the team’s front office that he is both concerned and interested in modifying the terms of his current deal. Meanwhile, the Rams must keep one eye on the contract negotiations between the Dallas Cowboys and their own starting quarterback, Dak Prescott. NFL analysts expect the Cowboys to reset the market price of quarterbacks as a result of those contract negotiations.

It is in everybody’s interests that the Rams resolve their renegotiations with Matthew Stafford long before the Cowboys back up the Brink’s truck to extend Prescott. But so far, neither the team nor Stafford’s representation have shared information or progress updates as to how negotiations have been going so far.