Matthew Stafford ranks low on ESPN’s QB bargains list
Matthew Stafford, who is tied with Dak Preston for the eighth highest salary of any NFL quarterback at $40 million, is also tied. After the 2021 season, which saw a Super Bowl victory, he signed his current contract. However, the value of the deal is now in doubt after he missed eight games, and had only 10 touchdown passes.
ESPN used analytics to break down the biggest bargains at quarterback and which ones delivered the most value in 2022, but Stafford didn’t rank very highly on the list. He was slotted in with the “Established Starters Not On Rookie Deals” group, which is essentially a collection of quarterbacks who have already gotten a second contract and were starters this season.
Stafford ranked No. 15 among the 15 players in this group. 13. His total production was expected to be 104.0. This is partly due to his compensation. Players who are paid more should produce more. But, his production total was 76.61, which is third among 15 quarterbacks in the group.
Stafford was absent for half of the season, and he was playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in football. He was in a terrible situation this season, getting very little help from his blockers up front or his receivers on the outside – with the exception of Cooper Kupp.
Stafford should be able, if he is healthy, to resume the form he showed in 2021. He threw 41 touchdown passes while averaging 287.4 yards per contest. These numbers will make Stafford a far better value than he was 2021, even with a salary of $40 million.
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