The Rams declared on Saturday that they and Matthew Stafford have come to an extension. A four-year contract was reached, according to tweets from ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter.

Although Deshaun Watson and Aaron Rodgers have completely changed the quarterback landscape this month, Stafford’s new contract, which is four years and $160 million, according to Schefter, does not push Watson’s or Rodgers’ guaranteed value. Although Stafford’s most recent contract does not bring him into the Rodgers-Watson realm for AAV, he does become the latest quarterback to earn $40MM annually. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, the Los Angeles quarterback will receive a guaranteed $135MM from this agreement (Twitter link).

Upon closer inspection, it appears that the contract has moved to $43 million year. Rapoport also notes that the agreement contains extra years to assist the Rams with their salary cap (Twitter link). This basically turns the extension into a $129 million, three-year agreement. Stafford will tie Josh Allen at $43MM a year. However, Allen reached that cost by offering the Bills an extension that lasted six real years. A three-year re-up that would pay Stafford $43MM AAV is undoubtedly a good deal for a player who has only appeared in one Pro Bowl. Naturally, Stafford’s stellar 2021 postseason eclipses his underwhelming Detroit performance from earlier in the year.

After leading the Rams on a game-winning drive to defeat the Bengals, Stafford helped the team win their second Super Bowl. In his debut season with the Rams, the veteran Lions starter did not miss a game and performed admirably in the postseason. Stafford ran for 6,000 yards and threw 50 touchdown passes in 21 games the previous season. After leading his new team to four postseason victories in one season, the former No. 1 overall choice transformed his career trajectory and set himself up for this lucrative agreement.

Stafford’s $27MM annual contract, which the Lions extended in 2017, marked the quarterback high-water record by $2MM each year. The earning potential of quarterbacks has evolved significantly over the years; Watson received an incredible $230MM completely guaranteed from the Browns, while Rodgers is currently bound to a contract worth over $50MM annually. Stafford became the sixth player in the NFL to earn $40 million annually. Stafford could have demanded more, given the direction Rodgers and Watson took the market. In a way, this trade might aid the Rams in developing their core around him.

Stafford’s cap numbers will be intriguing to watch because the Rams need to resolve an issue with Aaron Donald’s contract. The parties have held talks, and according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, they have made progress (on Twitter). Donald is due for a raise on his $22.5 million annual contract, which has been eclipsed by a number of defenders.