The Rams’ 2027 planning is tied to one big question: what Matthew Stafford decides after 2026.
Los Angeles has spent the past six seasons building around Stafford, and the setup for a seventh year depends on whether he keeps playing. During the offseason, the Rams reworked a multi-year deal that keeps Stafford from playing elsewhere, but that agreement can be severed if he retires.
That possibility helps explain why so many veterans on the 2026 roster still do not have extensions. The Rams have already locked in some key defenders, including inside linebacker Nate Landman and defensive backs Quentin Lake and back Kam Curl, but the offensive side looks far more unsettled.
A lot of that comes back to Stafford. If he returns, it would make sense for the Rams to keep one of the league’s better offensive line groups intact. If he walks away, though, general manager Les Snead is unlikely to pour major money into veteran linemen who would be protecting Ty Simpson.
Instead, Snead would likely want a younger front that can grow with Simpson at the same time.
That same thinking may also explain why rookie tight end Max Klare and wide receiver CJ Daniels have seen so little action. Their limited targets over eight games have been hard for fans to ignore, but the bigger picture may be about timing. Both players reportedly showed strong chemistry with Simpson in the preseason, and the Rams may be trying to hold onto that connection for 2027.
That would matter even more if multiple playmakers are gone by the end of the season.
If Stafford retires, the offense would need a full reset. No. 9 is still elite, but the signs are there: an interception per game and arm soreness after just eight games are reminders that age eventually catches up to everyone.
Simpson is expected to be ready in 2027, but only if Stafford gives him his blessing. Until then, the offense remains in a holding pattern, and Stafford’s retirement would open the door to a new era. Snead, as ever, is not likely to wait around once that door opens.
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