NFL News and Notes This Week

Rams’ Stafford Inks New Extension

Matthew Stafford, coming off his first MVP award last season, knows that the finish line of his illustrious career is on the horizon. He is 38 and was on the final year of his deal. The Rams drafted Alabama QB Ty Simpson in the first round in a move that seemed to give them the QB of the future but seemed to be a bit of a reach at the time.

On Thursday, the Rams announced that they had inked Stafford to a one-year extension that keeps him around through the 2027 campaign. The deal is worth up to $60 million with incentives. That gives the Rams two more runs with their veteran gunslinger. The big question is simple. If the plan was to keep Stafford around, why not use the pick they used on Simpson to bolster their roster for the short term?

Campbell, Lions Work Out New Deal

Detroit declined the fifth-year option on Jack Campbell last month. The Lions were intent on using their fifth-year option on Jahmyr Gibbs, giving them more time to work out a deal. Detroit’s plan was to work out a new deal with Campbell ahead of training camp. This week, the Lions accomplished that goal. It was announced that the sides agreed to a four-year deal worth $81 million. Of that, $51 million is guaranteed.

Campbell racked up 176 tackles, nine TFL, five sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He earned First Team All-Pro honors and went to the Pro Bowl for the first time. Now, he’ll be the anchor of that Detroit defense for the next several years.

Cardinals Dealing With QB Issues?

Arizona is in a state of flux, especially at the quarterback position. The Cardinals cut Kyler Murray, who ended up signing a one-year prove it deal with the Vikings. They drafted Carson Beck and they signed Gardner Minshew II as a free agent. Meanwhile, last season’s de facto starter, Jacoby Brissett, remains away from the team during OTAs. He’s seeking a new deal after his performance last season, the first year of a two-year contract.

Brissett has a case he’s being undervalued. After all, his deal is worth $4.88 million and could be worth up to $5.39 million. However, only $1.5 million of that is guaranteed. By comparison, Minshew II got more than triple that number guaranteed. The Cardinals are playing with fire as Brissett is the starter. It’s unclear if he’ll be at mandatory minicamp in June if things aren’t resolved. The Cardinals are normally a team is disarray but situations like this don’t instill confidence in the franchise.