At this point, the odds seem greater that Sam Darnold is going to at least test the open market. Meaning, the Los Angeles Rams could be a potential fit. Matthew Stafford’s future isn’t the clearest it has ever been. Plus, Kevin O’Connell has a history with Sean McVay, so there would be some element of familiarity with the system. At least on paper, Darnold going to the Rams appears to be something worth exploring.
Sam Darnold was one of the breakout stories of the year. The Vikings sensation racked up 14 wins, a whopping 35 touchdown passes, and only 12 interceptions. It was by far the best year of his career. With the season over, Darnold will be looking to cash in.
Sam Darold with Los Angeles Rams ‘Would Work,’ The Rest Depends On Matthew Stafford
LAFB exclusively spoke with NFL Insider Ian Rapoport at the 2024-25 Super Bowl Media Row to get his opinion on the potential fit. Rapoport believed the move could “make sense” in a certain scenario.
“Boy, I’m sure it would work, right? Like, I think if Sam Darnold was the Rams quarterback, I imagine he’d be coached exceptionally well and he would be very good. I just don’t know that Matthew Stafford is going anywhere right now. Like I know he wants to come back. You know, the Rams would like him back,” he said.
“It’s really just like, can they figure out a deal that makes sense for both sides? That’s really more of the question because, you know, Stafford is obviously older, but his arm is still electric and still showed this year that he’s more than good enough. So I think that’s the first question. But if it’s not Stafford, I think that makes sense. It just would be, you know, I would say [Darnold’s] fairly expensive,” he added.
Subscribe to LAFB Network’s Los Angeles Rams YouTube Channel
As Rapoport said, Stafford appears to be heading back to play in 2025. However, Rapoport claimed that the negotiation for a deal with the Rams could be the biggest catalyst to a situation that could lead to Darnold’s arrival. The insider also noted that he’d expect Darnold to be “fairly expensive.”
Sam Darnold’s Potential Asking Price
Essentially, the question might come down to whether the Rams would want to keep Stafford at what could be a higher salary or take a chance on Darnold coming off the open market. According to Over the Cap, Stafford could carry a minimum cap hit as high as $49.6 million.
Darnold, meanwhile, might be in line for different figures. Baker Mayfield, who also saw his career hit rock bottom during the same time as Darnold, is playing on a $100 million deal with the Buccaneers. Of course, Mayfield didn’t test the open market after his breakout season.
If Darnold does, competing offers could see his cap hit jump to be higher than Mayfield’s, perhaps even into the $40-$50 million range. As such, it could come down to whether the Rams want an age-37 Stafford for 2025 for about $50 million or Darnold for potentially up to a similar number heading into an age-28 season.
Both options carry their risks. What will the Rams decide?