Grant Stuard

Career StatsC-

Year	Team	GP	Tkl	Sacks	INT
Career		83	92	—	—
2025		17	19	0.0	0
2024		17	40	0.0	0
2023		17

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Los Angeles Rams got a D+ Contract Value Index out of the Grant Stuard signing because the guaranteed money matches the production tier. At $2.525M AAV over two years, Stuard is being compensated as a role player—specifically, as a specialist—and his 2025 season numbers (19 tackles, 17 games) reflect exactly that limited defensive workload. The linebacker market has evolved to reward versatility and high-snap counts; Stuard's value sits squarely in the special teams captain tier, where coverage reps and leadership matter far more than tackle accumulation. At 27 and in his fifth season after a seventh-round draft pedigree, he's locked into a veteran minimum-adjacent deal that carries zero downside for LA, which aligns perfectly with how the front office is constructing this unit—targeted, underrated additions rather than expensive gambles. The media consensus and fan sentiment (B+ range) confirm the Rams front office read this correctly: a proven gunner from Detroit anchors their coverage overhaul without eating cap space or competing for snaps in the thin linebacker market. The two-year structure gives the team flexibility to exit or extend based on special teams performance, and given the razor-thin margins in NFC West play, that disciplined approach to roster building is exactly what this D+ grade reflects—fair value for what Stuard actually does on Sundays.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the D band — a quick read on where Grant's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Grant Stuard delivers production that earns a C- performance grade against LB comps. As a 5-year veteran, Stuard is a depth-to-role-specific contributor rather than a core defensive playmaker—his 2025 season production of 19 tackles across 17 games reflects limited impact on the interior linebacker landscape. His strength lies in special teams availability and consistency: the mediaFraming underscores his role as Detroit's special teams captain and coverage specialist, the asset the Rams actively targeted in free agency to overhaul a struggling unit. The weakness is equally clear—defensive production remains minimal, making him a non-factor in run defense or pass coverage on a down-by-down basis. Stuard's current role as a two-year commitment signals the Rams view him as an anchor for their coverage units and an elite-level gunner, a positional specialist rather than a linebacker who will stack tackles or disrupt plays in the box. Given the team's recent aggressive moves to reshape the defensive line via trade (acquiring Myles Garrett, cutting Jalen Logan-Redding), Stuard's profile is emblematic of smart role-player construction—he solves one discrete problem without asking the defense to elevate him into situations for which he is not built. For a Rams team sitting at 12-5 in a tight NFC West race, this is exactly the type of surgical, low-drama upgrade that wins close games.

How Grant Compares at the Position

Grant Stuard ranks 208th of 338 graded linebackers by performance. That slots Grant between Bralen Trice (C-) just ahead and Chandler Martin (C-) just behind.

Fan Sentiment

The media and fanbase view Grant Stuard's signing as a shrewd, under-the-radar move that addresses a glaring weakness for the Rams. Multiple reports highlight his role as Detroit's special teams captain and league-leading coverage specialist, framing this as exactly the type of targeted upgrade Los Angeles needed after their special teams struggles. The B+ sentiment reflects cautious optimism from fans who understand that elite special teams play can be the difference in tight NFC West battles, particularly given how razor-thin margins were in several Rams losses last season. Analysts consistently praise the front office for pursuing a proven gunner rather than hoping internal options would develop, viewing it as smart roster construction. The two-year commitment signals the organization's belief that Stuard can anchor their coverage units, even if his defensive contributions remain limited. Overall, this move is being received as solid value and strategic thinking rather than a flashy headline-grabber.