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Sean McVay Wants Matthew Stafford Back; Tom Brady Reaches Out On Raiders’ Behalf

February 26th, 2025 at 9:53am CST by Sam Robinson

9:53am: After attracting significant interest — particularly from the Raiders and Giants — since being allowed to talk with other teams, Stafford may end up costing more. Teams are anticipating, in light of the interest the talented quarterback has generated, the Rams will up their asking price in trades, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. They have already been connected to seeking at least a first-round pick.

9:05am: The Rams have let Matthew Stafford speak with other teams, even as the veteran quarterback has not requested a trade. As the sides attempt to use this process to determine the Super Bowl-winning passer’s value, Stafford has been linked to a few teams. But a future in which he stays in Los Angeles on an adjusted contract remains in play.

Linked to wanting Stafford to stay, Sean McVay confirmed that stance at the Combine. The ninth-year Rams HC would prefer the team and Stafford find common contractual ground to move forward in a fifth season together.

“When you talk about the elephant in the room, these are the things that are really challenging,” McVay told Amazon’s Andrew Whitworth and Ryan Fitzpatrick during an appearance on the retirees’ Fitz & Whit podcast (via NFL.com). “Because there’s no discrepancy on us wanting him to continue to lead the way and be our quarterback. The interesting and the challenging dilemma and dynamics within this are, hey, how do you continuously as a head coach look at the short term and the long term and be able to figure out what does that really look like?

“You have to be able to say, hey, how do we continuously build? How do we support him? How do we make sure that he’s getting what is his worth relative to those things? So, at the end of the day, we had something in mind, he had something in mind, and nobody was right or wrong. And then ultimately you’re saying there’s a ton of interest because this guy is an incredible player.”

After agreeing to a restructure last summer, Stafford has been tied to seeking $50MM per year this offseason. The Rams are not believed to be eyeing a payment on this level, creating this polite impasse of sorts. While the team wants its QB back in the fold, it will depend on what Stafford will accept contractually and what kind of trade offers emerge. Although Stafford leaving would gut the Rams, he is effectively a high-end bridge QB at this point in his career. Stafford is heading into his age-37 season, and the Rams need a long-term answer.

The Giants, Browns, Steelers and Raiders have been mentioned as Stafford suitors. The Giants are not believed to be open to trading the No. 3 overall pick for Stafford, but the Rams would seek at least a first-round pick for the 17th-year veteran. The Raiders are doing some work on him, as the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore reports Tom Brady has contacted Stafford on the Silver and Black’s behalf.

Las Vegas both has a glaring QB need and plenty of cap space, being projected to carry more than $99MM — the second-most in the NFL. The Raiders, however, are not close to where the Rams are in terms of competitiveness; they have missed the past three playoff brackets and have not won a playoff game since the 2002 AFC championship. Stafford does not hold a no-trade clause, but the nature of this situation points to Vegas brass needing to sell Stafford on competitive viability while also agreeing to a deal carrying a $50MM-plus AAV.

The Raiders have also been connected to Sam Darnold and potentially reuniting Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson. A trade-up for Cam Ward has also surfaced at multiple points, as the Raiders hold the No. 6 pick. A Stafford trade would probably lead the Raiders to delay a QB draft choice beyond 2025, but the Rams are still conducting this fact-finding mission re: their starter’s value.

“There does have to be an element of understanding, well, what does that future look like without this freakin’ G who’s been our quarterback for the last four years?” McVay said. “And there’s no wrong or right way to go about it, but I do think for us to be able to make the most educated decision in terms of the cash budget that we operate on, the draft comp that you would get in return, you just need to be able to have all the parameters to at least explore it.”

Giants Called Rams On Matthew Stafford Before 2024 Deadline; Team Eyeing Shedeur Sanders?

February 25th, 2025 at 10:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

One two of the hottest seats in the NFL, Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll are carrying a quarterback depth chart without any names. While Tommy DeVito is expected to be tendered as an ERFA and retained, the Giants’ pursuit of a starter — and perhaps a backup — will define their offseason.

A recent report suggested the team will be interested in pairing a veteran and a rookie to join DeVito on the 2025 roster, and while this year’s free agent class (particularly if Sam Darnold is taken off the board via the franchise tag) is not especially impressive, Matthew Stafford trade buzz persists. The Giants have been mentioned as a team interested in swinging a deal, and ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan notes their interest in the talented passer stretches back to before last year’s trade deadline.

[RELATED: Giants Not Prepared To Trade No. 3 Pick For Stafford]

The Giants inquired about the Rams quarterback’s availability before that point, per Raanan. The Rams, who started 1-4 as injuries mounted early in the season, also received inquiries on Cooper Kupp. A Giants-Stafford partnership would have been odd at that point, too, considering their sluggish start. But the parties are being closely tied together now due to the latest Rams-Stafford contract issue.

While Kupp is not expected to be part of their 2025 roster, the Rams are believed to want Stafford back. But the QB is eyeing a bigger commitment, seeking to join the ballooning $50MM-per-year club. While Stafford’s talent and performance warrant inclusion, the Rams are not certain to move into that territory for a player going into an age-37 season. Of the QBs on such contracts, none is older than 31.

The Rams are running out of time to find a solution with Stafford, whom they have let speak with other teams for a bit now. Stafford would give the Giants a locked-in starter, and it would stand to reason they would pass on this year’s underwhelming lot of QB prospects and focus on bettering their roster around the 16-year veteran. But the Giants are also still being linked to arms in this class. Some around the league believe Shedeur Sanders is their preferred arm in this year’s class, Raanan adds. The Giants have been tied to the Colorado QB for months and will meet with him on a “30” visit soon. Even though Cam Ward was viewed as New York’s preference in early January, the Miami transfer may not be there at No. 3.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen in the draft; we don’t know who’s going to be there,” Schoen said at the Combine. “When we get around these kids, they may or may not be fits for us. We’re going to have to address the position somewhere. Even if you get a young quarterback, you’d like to have a vet in the room with them to show them the ropes and how to be a pro. We’re looking at all different avenues.

“We’re going to look at vets. We’re going to look at the draft. We’re going to look at trade candidates. We’re going to look under every rock to find the best prospect for us going into the ’25 season.”

The Giants would have a decent shot to land one of the top two arms in this class. The Titans and Browns have each been linked to trading down — though, teams annually are tied to doing so — while Schoen said (via the LandOnDemand.com’s Tony Grossi) the Giants are open to moving up or down. Colorado two-way phenom Travis Hunter has been connected to the top spot, while Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter has as well. Those prospects would stand to provide the Titans with better value, but the team also could be readying a move back to recoup assets (perhaps via the QB-needy Raiders) to start GM Mike Borgonzi‘s tenure.

The Giants tried to swing a trade to land Drake Maye last year but passed on the Michael Penix Jr.–J.J. McCarthy–Bo Nix contingent at No. 6. The Patriots passed on a trade offer that included the team’s 2025 first-round pick. The Giants would probably balk at dealing No. 3 for Stafford, but the Rams will certainly ask about that pick, as they are eyeing a first-rounder in a potential swap. The team’s No. 34 choice and more would stand to be in play for Stafford.

John Mara kept Daboll and Schoen after a 3-14 season, but a similar showing in 2025 will almost definitely lead the duo out of town. Even starting the season slowly would likely put jobs in jeopardy. Stafford does not hold a no-trade clause, but like Aaron Rodgers in 2023, it would stand to reason he would need to greenlight his destination since a team will be both giving up notable assets for him and authorizing a big-ticket contract. While the Giants do not match the Rams for roster talent or coaching acumen, being willing to give Stafford a raise makes them a team to monitor. Though the Giants still have Daniel Jones dead money ($22.2MM) on their books, that would be unlikely to impede a Stafford swap due to the power brokers’ hot-seat statuses.

Although it would stand to reason for Stafford to prefer staying in the system he knows, as he has signed four lucrative contracts in a career that dates back to a pre-rookie-scale-era Lions deal, money may be a more critical factor here. That would stand to benefit the Giants and other teams in pursuit.

Giants Won’t Move No. 3 Pick For Matthew Stafford; Rams Unwilling To Meet $50MM Asking Price?

February 25th, 2025 at 9:27pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Giants are interested in trading for Matthew Stafford, but the No. 3 pick is (unsurprisingly) off-limits in a potential deal, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic.

New York’s second-round pick (No. 34 overall) would likely be a “starting point” in negotiations with the Rams, per Duggan, though that would also mean that the Giants are willing to meet Stafford’s financial demands.

He reportedly wants $50MM per year, which would represent a 25% increase on the $40MM APY of his current deal. The Rams, for their part, are willing to give Stafford a raise of some sort, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. However, they are not believed to be comfortable giving him the upper-echelon quarterback contract he’s seeking. The Rams clearly didn’t feel comfortable meeting his asking price, which is why they’re allowing Stafford to speak with other teams. He can assess his value and decide if his future is in Los Angeles or elsewhere.

Fowler said that he expects the Steelers and the Giants to explore acquiring Stafford in the coming weeks. Both teams are seeking stability at quarterback after multiple years of turmoil under center, though spending premium draft capital and $50MM per year on Stafford may not be a long-term solution.

Stafford wants his contract situation to be “resolved fairly soon,” per Fowler, who believes the veteran quarterback’s future is still with the Rams. Los Angeles would want to reach an agreement with Stafford as soon as possible to clarify their salary cap picture ahead of free agency.

Broncos To Discuss Courtland Sutton Extension; Team Not Interested In Cooper Kupp, Deebo Samuel?

February 25th, 2025 at 3:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Courtland Sutton has now put together back-to-back quality seasons. After helping Russell Wilson rebound from a disastrous 2022 with a 10-touchdown 2023, the Broncos’ top wide receiver aided Bo Nix to boost the team’s playoff chances.

Sutton’s second career 1,000-yard season performed heavy lifting in Denver’s journey to a 10-7 record and first playoff berth in nine years. The veteran wide receiver remains tied to the $15MM-per-year extension he signed during the 2021 season. On one hand, Sutton secured a reasonable deal for a player with his accomplishments at the time. On the other, he tied himself down as multiple market booms transformed the position’s salary landscape.

That four-year, $60MM pact is up after the 2025 season. The Broncos were believed to have made this offseason the point they would discuss new terms with Sutton, after only agreeing to a minor incentive package in 2024. The talented receiver/trade-rumor mainstay is on the team’s extension radar, though it does not seem likely a new deal emerges soon within days or weeks.

“[GM] George [Paton] and I were just talking about it. Those discussions will take place [between] George, Courtland’s [agent],” Sean Payton said (via 9News’ Mike Klis). “We felt he had a real good season; he’s important to what we’re doing. So all of that will happen in time and I don’t think now’s the time.”

Paton did say he will meet with Sutton’s agent at the Combine. Sutton, 29, has made the interesting transition from a player thrown into trade rumors at just about every trade window between the 2022 and ’24 deadlines — these cycles including the Broncos declining a 49ers third-round pick — to one the Broncos are again ready to build around. After unloading Jerry Jeudy and Tim Patrick last year, Denver has Sutton still in place from the John Elway era. While Jeudy did re-emerge (particularly in a monster revenge performance in Denver) with a solid season after being traded, the Broncos saw Sutton post 1,081 receiving yards and eight TDs in 2024. The 6-foot-4 target played the lead role in Nix throwing the second-most TD passes (29) by a rookie in NFL history.

Among active WR deals, Sutton ranks 22nd in AAV. He is due a nonguaranteed $13.5MM, an amount Sutton and his agent have informed the Broncos (via Klis) will be untenable for 2025. While the Broncos have some time to resolve this matter, augmenting their skill-position corps around their WR1 will be a near-future task.

Even if the seven-year vet is retained on a deal more in line with today’s market, the Broncos have questions at receiver. Two-for-two in first-team All-Pro nods as a return man, Marvin Mims has slowly made progress on offense. The team also saw sporadic production from rookies Devaughn Vele and Troy Franklin, but it can be argued the Broncos are in need of another piece. Payton, however, pointed to a tight end being a higher priority compared to receiver. Today brought more in that direction.

The Broncos are not believed to be interested in Cooper Kupp or Deebo Samuel in trades, the Denver Post’s Troy Renck adds. Both NFC West standouts are not expected back with their respective teams, but the Rams and 49ers also have been linked to potentially cutting the All-Pros. This would open the door for receiver-needy teams and potentially affect the lot of veteran free agents at the position.

Samuel would be closer to what Payton seeks in his perpetual quest to add a “joker” performer to his offense. Denver lacked reliable pass catchers at running back and tight end last season. Samuel profiles as an inside playmaker, albeit an injury-prone one coming off a down season. He amassed just 670 receiving yards in 15 games and has frequently battled short-term injuries; a more serious Jones fracture is also on Samuel’s medical sheet. Making his name as a slot ace, Kupp has also seen injuries hamper him since his triple-crown season in 2021.

Options will be available to the Broncos in free agency, as Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs and Keenan Allen are all high-end route runners out of contract. Diontae Johnson also profiles as such, but he burned plenty of bridges (while torpedoing his value) during a turbulent 2024. The draft will also be an avenue for the Broncos to add a piece at receiver, as the team searches for RB and TE upgrades as well.

Bengals To Add Sean Desai To Staff

February 25th, 2025 at 2:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

After a quick demotion from his role as Eagles defensive coordinator, Sean Desai resurfaced in Los Angeles on Sean McVay‘s staff. The veteran defensive coach is now on his way to a fifth team in five years.

The two-time DC is expected to join the Bengals’ staff, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. This will mark a reunion for Desai and new Cincinnati DC Al Golden. The two worked together on Golden’s Miami Hurricanes staff in 2011. Desai served as the Hurricanes’ assistant director of football ops that year.

Desai has seen both his NFL DC stops end after one season. The Vic Fangio disciple succeeded Chuck Pagano as Bears DC in 2021, and while the team had some success on that side of the ball that season, Matt Nagy being fired scattered his staff as well. The Bears ranked sixth in total defense that year, despite Khalil Mack going down midseason with a foot injury. Robert Quinn proceeded to break Richard Dent‘s single-season franchise sack record, totaling 18.5.

Following a one-off with the Seahawks in 2022, Desai landed the Eagles’ DC job. Philly looked to have had Fangio in mind to take over, but timing involving the clunky Jonathan Gannon exit scuttled that. As Fangio proved out of place in Miami, Desai did not succeed in Philly. Nick Sirianni stripped Desai of play-calling responsibilities as the Eagles’ defense struggled to match its 2022 form, leading to Matt Patricia being elevated. Patricia could not stop the bleeding, and the two staffers oversaw a collapse that ended with a Buccaneers runaway wild-card win.

As the Eagles’ belated Fangio hire produced a Super Bowl LIX romp, Desai spent the year as a Rams senior defensive assistant. This Bengals gig will be Desai’s third senior assistant-type role in four years, as he was not assigned to a specific position in Seattle, either. But Desai will bring considerable experience to Golden’s staff. The 41-year-old staffer has been in the NFL since 2013.

Matthew Stafford Seeking $50MM Per Year; Multiple Teams Showing Trade Interest

February 24th, 2025 at 11:18pm CST by Adam La Rose

The future of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford continues to dominate the news cycle as the new league year approaches. The Super Bowl winner will manage to secure a new pact ahead of the 2025 season, but whether or not it comes from Los Angeles remains to be seen.

One of the many recent developments in this situation indicated Stafford is seeking a raise from what he is currently set to collect. As a result of last offseason’s stopgap financial compromise between team and player, the two-time Pro Bowler is owed $32MM as things stand (without much of it being guaranteed). With respect to how much of a pay bump Stafford is seeking, further clarity has emerged.

The 37-year-old is looking to join the signal-callers earning $50MM per year or more, NFL Network’s Peter Schrager reports (video link). That list currently sits at nine, and each of the players on it are younger than Stafford; only Dak Prescott and Jared Goff are QBs over the age of 30 who find themselves in the upper echelon of compensation. On the other hand, Jalen Hurts is the only $50MM-per-year passer whose resume includes a Super Bowl title.

In the wake of the Rams’ victory in Super Bowl LVI, Stafford, receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive lineman Aaron Donald received new contracts cementing their status as the team’s core moving forward. The latter retired after the 2023 season, while Kupp is known to be on the trade block (and in danger of being released if no suitor is found). Moving on from Stafford would allow for the Rams to reset under center and complete the transition to a much younger – and much less expensive – nucleus.

Stafford and his camp have permission to gauge the trade market, and the upcoming Combine will no doubt result in all parties learning more about how much (in terms of draft capital and finances) teams are willing to pay. Any number of suitors could emerge given Stafford’s potential to serve as a short-term quarterback upgrade, and some teams are known to have made contact so far. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reports the Giants, Browns, Steelers and Raiders are among those which have expressed interest.

The Giants are known to be in the market for a veteran passer as well as a long-term solution brought about via the draft. A deal for Stafford would meet the first of those goals, and if healthy he could prove to be a worthwhile addition over a short period. New York owns the No. 3 pick in April’s draft, capital the team will not be willing to part with. Whether or not the Rams can work out a trade built around second- (rather than first-)round compensation will be key in determining if a deal can be finalized.

The Browns are set to be without Deshaun Watson for most or potentially all of 2025, and another restructure to his pact will help create the space needed for an inexpensive veteran addition. Provided he is released by the Falcons, Kirk Cousins will be a name to watch on that front based on his history with Kevin Stefanski and the offset language in his contract. Stafford, by contrast, would be a far more expensive target.

At least one of Russell Wilson or Justin Fields will likely be retained by Pittsburgh this offseason, and a mutual interest exists for a new deal in both cases. A commitment from the Steelers to operate as the clear-cut starter will be an obvious sticking point whichever way the team goes, though, and adding Stafford via trade would leave Wilson and Fields on the move this spring. Pittsburgh would be better placed financially than New York or Cleveland to absorb a raise, but the same holds true of other teams as well.

One of those is the Raiders. Vegas entered Monday with the second-most spending power in the NFL, and quarterback is a clear area of need. As a result, it came as no surprise when a report from yesterday noted the Raiders could be a Stafford suitor. New general manager John Spytek would no doubt avoid trading away the sixth overall pick in this year’s draft, so another package or one centered on a 2026 Day 1 selection (a possibility Breer mentions) would be required for talks to yield progress.

Schrager adds no animosity exists between Stafford and Rams head coach Sean McVay, and the door is open to another Rams restructure ending speculation on this front. Still, given the extent to which a trade is receiving consideration, a reconciliation between the parties would be at least somewhat awkward at this point. Los Angeles will look for a long-term successor under center in the near future regardless, but it remains uncertain if that will be necessary in 2025.

Rams Add Alex Van Pelt To Coaching Staff

February 24th, 2025 at 6:46pm CST by Ben Levine

The Rams formally announced their coaching staff this afternoon, and a previously unreported name was notably listed as a senior offensive assistant. Per the team, Alex Van Pelt is one of the six new additions to the staff for the 2025 campaign.

A long-time NFL coach, this is likely a temporary stop for the 54-year-old. Van Pelt has served in a variety of roles throughout his career. He mostly made a name for himself as a QBs coach, including a stint as Aaron Rodgers‘ coach in Green Bay between 2014 and 2017.

The veteran coach had a four-year gig as Cleveland’s offensive coordinator, and his stint ended in somewhat surprising fashion following the 2023 campaign despite the Browns’ top-10 finish in points scored. He quickly landed on his feet as the Patriots OC in 2024 but wasn’t retained as part of Mike Vrabel‘s new staff. Van Pelt’s New England stint saw plenty of ups and downs, with the coach earning credit for Drake Maye‘s development while drawing criticism for his play-calling and lack of creativity.

Now, he’ll have an opportunity to rehabilitate his image while working under one the NFL’s most lauded offensive minds in Sean McVay. At 54 years old, Van Pelt could look to reenter the coordinator carousel next offseason. At the very least, he should be able to garner a promotion from his new Rams gig.

The rest of the Rams’ new staff members includes tight ends coach Scott Huff, pass rush coordinator Drew Wilkins, senior defensive assistant Jimmy Lake, assistant special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica, and game management coordinator Dan Shamash.

Rams Seeking First-Round Pick For Matthew Stafford; Raiders Could Show Interest?

February 23rd, 2025 at 9:44pm CST by Adam La Rose

As uncertainly looms over the future of Matthew Stafford, speculation about a potential trade will no doubt continue to intensify. The veteran quarterback’s camp has permission from the Rams to gauge his market value, and a degree of clarity on the asking price for any potential deal appears to have emerged.

Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports the Rams will alter the trade cost in a swap depending on how much money an acquiring team is willing to take on. Stafford and Los Angeles reached a one-year agreement on a revised deal last offseason, but the acceleration of money into 2024 left team in player in a similar situation for this spring. The 37-year-old will play in 2025, and the Rams have made it clear they are on board with keeping him as their starter as long as his career continues.

Considering the updates which have emerged in recent days on this situation, it would come as no surprise if a firm asking price were to emerge from the Rams. Per Bonsignore, Los Angeles would look to collect a first-round pick and more in a Stafford swap. He notes suitors will attempt to drop the cost to a package built on a second-round selection. Depending on how strong Stafford’s market proves to be, Los Angeles could be in line to receive notable draft compensation in the event efforts to work out another restructured pact fell through.

The two-time Pro Bowler is currently owed $32MM in 2025 and $31MM during the final year of his pact. Only roster bonuses totaling $4MM this year and $5MM next represent locked in compensation, however, so new guarantees (along with at least a modest raise) will be needed for an arrangement to be made. The Rams are currently mid-pack in terms of projected cap space and the team does not have a quarterback successor in the fold as things stand.

Those factors could very well help the team repeat its efforts from 2024 and grant Stafford another one-year bump in pay. If the Rams receive viable trade offers, on the other hand, they could elect to move on and start over at the position (as they will need to in the near future anyway). The former Lion has generally provided strong play during his four years in Los Angeles, although injuries and the threat of declining production represent obvious reasons for any team to hesitate regarding a lucrative commitment.

To little surprise, Bonsignore names the Raiders as a potential player in the Stafford sweepstakes. New owner Tom Brady has proven to be a highly influential voice in the organization, having played a central role in the hiring of John Spytek as general manager and Pete Carroll as head coach. Vegas is among the teams in need of a new long-term answer at the quarterback spot, but both of the two passers seen as being worthy of a Day 1 selection in this year’s draft could be off the board by the time the team is on the clock at No. 6.

Adding a bridge starter would help the Raiders’ outlook for 2025, and with a Gardner Minshew release expected, they will be in the market for a veteran. The likes of Sam Darnold and Russell Wilson could be targets in free agency provided they become available, but a trade for Stafford would provide Vegas with a short-term upgrade. Whether or not the Raiders or any other interested party will be prepared to meet the Rams’ asking price will make for one of the league’s top storylines over the near future.

Rams Give QB Matthew Stafford Permission To Speak With Other Teams

February 22nd, 2025 at 10:45pm CST by Ely Allen

We’ve seen some interesting developments in the past couple of months concerning the future of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford in Los Angeles. Today’s newest update comes from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network who tells us that the team has given Stafford’s agent permission to speak with other teams about his value. Rapoport makes it clear that this is not a trade request, just an external appraisal.

Following the end of the Rams’ 2024 campaign, Stafford began to contemplate his future in the league, potentially weighing the possibility of retirement before ultimately making the decision to play in 2025, after some pressure for clarity from the team. As the team was waiting for that clarity, though, the Rams made it known that they were considering trading the veteran quarterback. This rumor led to interest from several teams who began to contact Los Angeles with interest in Stafford.

With today’s update, we see that the Rams have been hearing these offers and are hoping to use them to assist in their contract negotiations. Our previous most recent update hinted that the 37-year-old was seeking a raise on his next deal. This new tactic from the Rams could be seen as an attempt to let the rest of the league do their work for them. This would be similar to what the Ravens attempted last year, when they placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Lamar Jackson, and most teams expected them to match any offer sheet after letting other teams determine Jackson’s worth.

This is a less official version of this. This is closer to the MLB’s arbitration process, in which the team and player can’t come to an agreement on a player’s value, so they use a third-party arbiter to make the determination for them. As the Rams and Stafford struggle to find level ground in contract discussions, the hope is that outside teams will participate and give their two cents on what Stafford’s next contract should look like.

More likely, teams, if they don’t really believe they have a chance to land Stafford in a trade, could try to inflate the cost of a Stafford deal in order to handicap the Rams as much as possible. This possibility is underlined by a report from Rapoport’s colleague Mike Garafolo, who tells us that these other teams don’t believe this means the Rams and Stafford are headed for a split and that trade compensation will remain a hurdle to them actually acquiring the passer.

Another hurdle to acquiring Stafford via trade is the $45.3MM in dead money trading Stafford’s contract would cost the Rams, according to Jason Fitzgerald of OvertheCap.com. Still, Fitzgerald believes that the Rams would be willing to deal Stafford for a return they deem worthy, but if that adequate trade offer doesn’t come, they would work with the veteran on a modified contract.

Jaguars Hire James Gladstone As GM

February 21st, 2025 at 10:08pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Jaguars are hiring Rams director of scouting strategy James Gladstone as their next general manager, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

The team confirmed the hire via social media, and Jaguars owner Shad Khan released a statement (via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport) calling Gladstone “exceptional in every regard.” Gladstone will reunite with Liam Coen, a Rams assistant from 2018-20 and their OC in 2022. Although Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham was viewed as the frontrunner, it certainly makes sense Coen would want a former coworker to start fresh with him in Jacksonville.

Gladstone will become the youngest general manager in the league at 34 years old. He was previously a high school coach in St. Louis before being hired by Rams general manager Les Snead. Gladstone has spent the last eight years in Los Angeles including the last four as director of scouting strategy. Gladstone will become a GM four years after former Rams staffer Brad Holmes took over in Detroit. Holmes’ Lions success surely did not hurt Gladstone’s chances, though Coen’s status in Jacksonville probably played a bigger role here.

The Rams consistently hit on their draft picks in Gladstone’s tenure despite trading away most of their first-round picks. He will hope to bring that success to Jacksonville, which had an inconsistent drafting record under Trent Baalke. The Jaguars currently hold the fifth overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, giving Gladstone a chance to add an elite prospect with his first pick as GM.

Snead may look to an internal promotion to replace Gladstone in Los Angeles. Candidates could include director of data and analytics Jake Temme and scouting strategist Nicole Blake, per Jordan Rodrigue of The Athletic.

Gladstone was not considered a frontrunner for the Jaguars’ GM job when the team first requested to interview him, partially because he was not considered for any of the other vacancies this hiring cycle. He impressed team decision-makers enough in his first interview to earn a second, solidifying him as a finalist for the job in Jacksonville. Now, he will team up with Coen in an effort to rebuild the team after a 4-13 showing in 2024.

The Jaguars’ GM vacancy was the last to be filled of this year’s hiring cycle, so Gladstone will have to move quickly to prepare the roster for free agency. Jacksonville currently has just under $40MM in cap space, but could create another $35MM of room by moving on from Christian Kirk, Evan Engram, and Josh Reynolds. Reynolds made just one catch in 2024 and won’t be worth his $4.26MM cap hit next season. Kirk and Engram both played well in 2022 and 2023, but experienced a downtick in production last year before going down with season-ending injuries. They represent the team’s two biggest cap hits in 2025, so the new regime may prefer to cut ties rather than extend players they didn’t originally sign.

Gladstone beat out a number of veteran executives for the GM role in Jacksonville in what Khan called “a painstaking but energizing interview process.” Below is a full list of their candidates:

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