Stafford could play through Ty Simpson’s rookie contract

From the perspective of Matthew Stafford’s wife Kelly, he could still be starting for the Los Angeles Rams when Ty Simpson ’s rookie contract expires. During an Instagram Q&A, Kelly Stafford was asked if her husband could play at least 4 more years, to which she responded “I could see that happening” on the contingency that it’s what’s best for their four daughters together.

Matthew Stafford has allegedly not always appreciated it when his wife has spoke for him when it comes to his football career, but she could have ignored the question or she could have given a more ambiguous answer. Instead, at a time when she knows the Rams just drafted a quarterback high enough in the draft that he would be expected to start soon, Kelly Stafford made it clear that from her perspective he’s not feeling like he’s close to the end.

The Rams are currently going through contract extension negotiations with Stafford, potentially at least tying him to the team through 2027. He is coming off of an MVP season and might feel as though he’s actually getting better right now, not worse.

Going into his age-38 season, Stafford wouldn’t be the first quarterback in recent years to extend a career into his 40s. Even if Stafford plays until he is 40, which is 5 years younger than Tom Brady ’s last season and 2 years younger than Aaron Rodgers was last season, that would eat through the first three years of Simpson’s rookie contract.

As the 13th overall pick, Simpson will sign a four-year, $25.4 million contract with a fifth-year option.

If Stafford plays three more seasons, the Rams might have to pick up Simpson’s fifth-year option (which in a few years could be over $25 million itself) without ever having seen him start a game.

It will have also meant that the “value” or a rookie contract quarterback will have evaporated as the Rams had to pay both Stafford and a top-15 pick at quarterback over the next three seasons. An $6.5 million/year backup is more expensive than Mac Jones ($3.5m/year), Carson Wentz ($3m), or Drew Lock ($2.5m).

Ultimately, Matthew Stafford’s decision will be made by Matthew Stafford, but from everything we know of him and his family he will be willing to step away from football if they ask him to retire. From the sounds of it post-Ty Simpson, nobody — not even the Rams — is asking him to retire any time soon.

And he might not.