The Los Angeles Rams have a lot going for them in 2025: Head coach Sean McVay is one of the best in the NFL, the offense returned key starters and added Davante Adams, and the defense looks solid as it continues to develop.
But the Rams aren’t a perfect team, either.
CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin broke down every team’s biggest “red flag” heading into the 2025 season, and noted that quarterback Matthew Stafford’s age could be a negative for L.A. this year.
“Age is just a number, they say. And certainly Stafford is part of that argument, given he nearly knocked off the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles ahead of his 37th birthday to close 2024,” Benjamin wrote. “But this is a gunslinger who’s also battled real bumps and bruises over the last half-decade, to the point he’s openly contemplated retirement. Sean McVay’s offense always has a Super Bowl ceiling with No. 9’s big arm at the controls, but if Stafford can’t stay upright to feed new weapons like Davante Adams, well, there could be big trouble in Los Angeles.”
This has always been Stafford’s crutch if he were to return to the Rams. He’s one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL, but also one of the oldest. And we’ve seen drop-offs from aging veterans in the past — from Peyton Manning and Tom Brady to Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson.
A lot of it, as Benjamin mentioned, is dependent on the Rams’ offensive line. L.A. kept its 2024 unit intact except for bringing back Coleman Shelton at center from the Super Bowl team. However, Alaric Jackson may miss time while battling blood clots, leaving a potential issue at left tackle if veteran D.J. Humphries can’t perform.
The Rams aren’t QB-proof, either. Jimmy Garoppolo is the backup and hasn’t proven he’s anything more than a game manager during his career. And the last time Stafford missed time in 2021, the Rams went 5-12 and missed the playoffs.
While getting Stafford back was a big win for the 2025 offseason, his age carries with it some considerable concerns.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Analyst reveals Rams’ biggest red flag for 2025