PALM BEACH, Fla. – Rams Vice President of Football & Business Administration Tony Pastoors spoke with local media Monday at the NFL's annual meeting, discussing Matthew Stafford's contract adjustment and the salary cap ramifications of releasing Cooper Kupp, among other topics.
More on those key takeaways below:
Stafford's adjusted contract will be done "soon"
The Rams agreed to terms with their QB1 on a contract adjustment on Feb. 28, or 12 days before the start of free agency. NFL Network's Ian Rappoport that same day reported that adjustment would be finalized "over the next few weeks," and according to Pastoors, "it will be done soon."
Pastoors indicated that at this point, it's just working through the language in the contract with Stafford's representation.
"We feel good about it, he feels good about it," said Pastoors, who declined to specify the terms. "We're just working through paperwork right now."
Year-to-year arrangement with Stafford "good problem to have"
Having stability at quarterback is everything in the NFL, and while the Rams are in a year-to-year arrangement on that front, it doesn't bother them.
"I would say it's a good problem to have, because if you've got a quarterback, you got a chance, and we've got a really good one," Pastoors said, when asked about the challenges of that year-to-year approach when it comes to building a roster. "I think we all would acknowledge here, you probably have to start planning and figuring out the future, but in the here and now, you appreciate that you got a guy like Matthew, and you can get into the postseason like we did last year and feel like you got a chance every time you step on the field."
Kupp's release will incur dead money in 2025, then off the salary cap books in 2026
Pastoors confirmed that the $12 million signing bonus that came with Kupp's contract he signed with the Seahawks offset the Rams owing him that in 2025. However, by being released, the remaining money owed to him on his contract prorates to 2025, which means the Rams will, in total, occur a dead money charge of around $22 million this year.
Kupp will be off the salary books next year.
