Rams' Matthew Stafford now has the weight of the world on his shoulders

Though the Los Angeles Rams have enough offensive talent to be a good team, it all starts and stops with Matthew Stafford, the 36-year-old grizzly veteran gunslinger.

At least that is what Eric Edholm with NFL.com believes. He compiled a list of all the NFC team's most valuable players. And out of all the talent on the Rams' roster – Kyren Williams, Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp – Stafford was the player he believes the Rams' offense hinges on.

Edholm acknowledges that Kupp is still a factor in the Rams' offense. Still, he is not as bullish on the 31-year-old receiver. He also acknowledges Nacua's influence in Sean McVay's system, but he doesn't believe the second-year receiver can stay healthy. With those two big fish eliminated, he landed on Stafford, whom he thinks has one more quality season left in him.

"Stafford might be heading into his swan-song season for all we know, but the way he was playing at the end of last season -- right up to where he almost upset his former Lions team in Detroit in the playoffs -- was just about as high a level as Stafford has played in his career," Edholm writes. "That’s a bold statement, but I believe it. And I think with some luck and health, he can approach that level again in 2024 -- perhaps with Kupp cutting into Nacua’s production just a bit."

Stafford isn't getting any younger. He isn't as awe-striking as he used to be. But he is a smart player with a knack for finding throwing angles and trying throws into windows most quarterbacks wouldn't be willing to take.

That is why Stafford was still ranked among the elite at his position two months ago. The talent is still there for him to be an elite signal caller.

He may not be the player he was during his prime or even during the Rams' run to the Super Bowl, but Stafford can still be Los Angeles' most important player during the 2024 campaign.

Related: One national outlet tries to claim Matthew Stafford has one of the worst contracts in the NFL

Related: Matthew Stafford wants one thing from the Rams, and the team ought to give it to him

Related: League-leading stat proves how dangerous Rams WR Puka Nacua can be operating the middle of the field