Matthew Stafford

Raiders, Matthew Stafford Finding Common Ground On Contract; Team Not Open To Trading First-Round Pick

February 27th, 2025 at 2:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

It appears the Raiders have moved to the front of the line among the Matthew Stafford suitors. In a situation that has begun to remind of the Steelers’ pursuit of Brandon Aiyuk last summer, a trade partner is moving toward agreeing on contract parameters.

Although trade terms would still need to be worked out, the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore reports the Raiders and Stafford are believed to have found “common ground” on contract terms. That would represent an important step. As the Aiyuk matter showed, however, the Rams still hold the hammer here.

While the 49ers viewed Aiyuk as important to their NFC title defense last year, Stafford obviously is the centerpiece of his current team. The Rams and their four-year quarterback are not in agreement on contract terms, leading to the team allowing other clubs to effectively set the market here. Sean McVay has expressed a desire to keep Stafford in Los Angeles, and the veteran starter has not requested a trade. Still, a few teams — the Raiders, Giants, Browns and Steelers — have been connected to the QB. Trade compensation would become the next step.

The Raiders look to share the Giants’ view of Stafford’s trade value. The Giants are not interested in trading the No. 3 overall pick for Stafford, even as the Rams are believed to want a first-rounder in a potential swap, and Bonsignore adds the Raiders view their first-rounder (No. 6 overall) as off the table. Considering Stafford’s age (37), it is unsurprising the Raiders would balk at moving such a high pick. They view that choice as essential to building a roster — either around Stafford or in a reality that does not feature the 17th-year vet donning silver and black.

Las Vegas will not be punished for tampering regarding the Stafford-Tom Brady summit in Montana, as the Rams have given their QB permission to speak with other teams. Stafford is believed to be seeking a contract worth $50MM-plus per year. The Rams are not expected to reach that place, and Bonsignore adds it is not known if the Raiders would sign off on that salary range. Stafford would be nearly six years older than anyone in the current $50MM-AAV club.

Stafford is largely in this place because he did not pursue a player-friendly contract in 2022, having left money on the table (via the $40MM-per-year extension) to help the Rams build around him. After coming back from an injury-plagued 2022 season, however, Stafford has turned in back-to-back quality years. With the likes of Trevor Lawrence, Jordan Love and Tua Tagovailoa in the $50MM-per-year contingent — along with the player who was the throw-in in the 2021 Stafford trade (Jared Goff) — it is understandable that L.A. QB would want a raise commensurate with his accomplishments and present form. Along that line, the Rams are taking a risk exposing their starter in the manner they are.

For now, Stafford remains a Ram. He is due a $4MM roster bonus soon, though that would seemingly not be enough money to derail a trade if there is one to make down the line. But Stafford suitors will want an answer soon, as they would need to move on to other options if no trade with the Rams can happen.

Giants Speak With Matthew Stafford’s Camp; Raiders Will Not Face Tampering Charges

February 27th, 2025 at 11:22am CST by Adam La Rose

A quartet of teams was recently mentioned as suitors to watch for on the Matthew Stafford trade front. The Giants and Raiders in particular have shown strong interest, and a bidding war could ensue as a result.

The Giants met with Stafford’s representatives at the Combine on Tuesday night, Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reports. That comes as no surprise given the interest the team has shown dating back to at least the 2024 trade deadline. General manager Joe Schoen has made it clear adding multiple quarterbacks (including, quite possibly, acquiring a veteran and then selecting a rookie early in the draft) is a priority this offseason.

Dealing the No. 3 pick in April’s draft is not on the table, but the Giants could look to put together a package built around other compensation. Confirming the Giants-Stafford meeting, a report from Dianna Russini, Tashan Reed, Jourdan Rodrigue and Vic Tafur of The Athletic notes Los Angeles would likely ask for a second-round selection and more if a Day 1 pick becomes unattainable (subscription required). The Giants are on track to own seven other 2025 picks, including No. 34.

Stafford is known to be seeking a new Rams pact averaging $50MM per year, but the team is not prepared to meet that asking price. Head coach Sean McVay has made it clear the team’s preference would be for the Super Bowl winner to play a fifth season in Los Angeles. While his camp has permission to seek out a trade partner, Stafford has not asked to be dealt to a new team.

The Raiders have of course already been in contact with Stafford himself speaking with minority owner Tom Brady. The details on the encounter have been disputed, but concerns about tampering can be put to rest. A league spokesperson informed Outkick’s Armando Salguero the NFL is satisfied tampering did not occur when Brady and Stafford met. Especially since the Rams have allowed conversations to take place regarding a trade deal as well as a contract from a (hypothetical) acquiring team, similar discussions can be expected over the coming days.

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer predicts this situation will be resolved one way or another relatively soon. The Rans will of course need to know if their 37-year-old passer will remain in place for another year or if a successor will need to be acquired this offseason. Suitors like the Giants and Raiders (along with the previously-mentioned Browns and Steelers) will also build their offseason plans on whether or not a Stafford swap can be worked out. As the Combine continues, traction on a potential deal could continue to be gained with respect to New York and/or Las Vegas in particular.

Tom Brady Ramps Up Raiders’ Pursuit Of Matthew Stafford

February 26th, 2025 at 11:01pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Matthew Stafford saga is growing more complicated by the hour, with multiple (and conflicting) reports of Tom Brady meeting with Stafford on a recent ski trip in Montana.

It was originally reported that Brady had reached out to Stafford about joining the Raiders, but subsequent reporting has provided more clarity on the situation.

Brady hosted Stafford in Montana as part of his ongoing efforts to recruit the veteran quarterback to Las Vegas, who are expected to be “the most aggressive suitor,” per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz. That report was disputed by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who said that Brady and Stafford “ran into each other” in an unplanned meeting. Schultz followed up on his original report, adding that “Brady has been leading the charge to get him to the Raiders if the Rams decide to trade him.”

Since Stafford has been given permission to speak with other teams, it’s unlikely that Brady’s actions would run afoul of the NFL’s anti-tampering rules. If Brady’s contact came before the Rams granted that permission, though, the Raiders could face an investigation and potential discipline for the infraction. The Falcons forfeited a fifth-round pick and paid a $250K fine for tampering with multiple free agents last year. Chief among them was another veteran quarterback: Kirk Cousins.

Stafford’s agent, Jimmy Sexton, has also been meeting with interested teams at the Combine this week, including the Giants, according to Schultz and The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. The Giants have been repeatedly linked to Stafford, even dating back to the 2024 trade deadline. While they may not be willing to deal the No. 3 overall pick to acquire the veteran quarterback, general manager Joe Schoen has made it clear that finding a new quarterback is his priority this offseason.

The Stafford situation remains fluid. Sean McVay expressed his desire to retain his Super Bowl-winning quarterback, but other teams are clearly circling. After assessing his market, Stafford will likely give the Rams a chance to meet his financial demands. If they refuse, he seems poised to force his way out of Los Angeles, with Las Vegas and New York leading the list of potential destinations.

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.

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.

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 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.

‘Several’ Teams Contact Rams On Matthew Stafford; QB Targeting Raise?

February 19th, 2025 at 9:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

A popular talking point ahead of free agency has centered around this year’s quarterback options — both in terms of veteran FAs and the rookie crop — not being overly impressive. If the Vikings use the franchise tag to keep Sam Darnold off the market, the top prize would be off the board. In that scenario, monitoring the Rams may become necessary. Teams are already closely watching this situation.

Matthew Stafford‘s name has come up as a potential trade candidate for a bit, and Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports several teams have indeed called the Rams on the veteran passer. The Rams did shop Stafford when he was coming off a multi-injury 2022 but have since seen him reestablish form as a top-10 QB, helping the team to back-to-back playoff berths.

GM Les Snead did not exactly slam the door on Stafford being moved, but Schultz indicates Sean McVay and others inside the organization want the QB retained. The Rams need to identify a post-Stafford answer at some point, but with Aaron Donald retired and Cooper Kupp appearing set to be traded, this remains a Stafford-centered franchise. This creates some leverage for the talented quarterback, who remains tied to a team-friendly contract.

Stafford is indeed seeking a pay raise that would place him closer to the top 10 earners at the position, according to Schultz. This would be an interesting component for Los Angeles, which thus far has only been linked to another restructure. A Stafford push for better guarantees last year did not yield a major win for the QB, who saw the Rams move $5MM from future years into 2024 and had them insert a $4MM 2025 roster bonus as part of that agreement. Even at the time of signing the four-year, $160MM deal, Stafford left money on the table to help the Rams build around him. With the pillars from that point gone or leaving, the NFL’s current 15th-highest-paid player may be angling for a final payday.

When Stafford signed his Rams extension in April 2022, the $50MM-per-year club consisted of only Aaron Rodgers‘ complex Packers contract, one the team traded a year in. There are now nine $50MM-AAV passers, including a few who have not displayed Stafford-level form to date. QBR slotted Stafford sixth in 2023 and 12th in 2024, with both years featuring Kupp injuries; 2024 also brought an extended period without Kupp and Puka Nacua, which nearly submarined the Rams’ season. Stafford helped the team revive it, going from 1-4 to a narrow divisional-round loss to the eventual champion Eagles.

The Rams have not seen Stetson Bennett become a legitimate successor option, and backup Jimmy Garoppolo is a free agent-to-be. This does not seem like the ideal draft for the Rams to address their post-Stafford future; then again, Stafford (when healthy) has proven talented enough he will keep the team away from the early draft slots that would bring franchise-level QBs. This represents an interesting offseason for the four-year Rams starter to strike, if indeed he is intent on securing a new deal. His current pact runs through 2026.

If the Rams do reverse course and give serious consideration to moving on now, Schultz adds a package that includes a first-round pick would be sought. The Rams needed to trade two first-round picks and a third to move Jared Goff‘s contract in the 2021 Stafford swap, and thanks in part to the 2024 restructure, trading Stafford before June 1 would bring a significant dead money charge ($45.33MM). That would check in behind only Russell Wilson and Rodgers’ upcoming Jets hit for largest in NFL history.

Having quickly reformed as a contender following a woeful Super Bowl title-defense season, the Rams would certainly be poised — McVay’s gifts notwithstanding — to take a step back if they traded Stafford. A deal in which another QB comes back would be interesting, and needy teams certainly exist here. Though, a team parting with a starter-caliber quarterback (and a first-round pick) to acquire a soon-to-be 37-year-old with a notable recent injury history would be a tougher scenario to envision. The Combine will provide a better gauge of what Stafford would bring back in a trade.

It is possible this is resolved with the contract adjustment Stafford seeks, though he has not shown an indication he would use a trade request as leverage in a negotiation. The Rams are projected to hold more than $44MM in cap space, which is a mid-pack number. A Kupp trade will bring back a few million more, as the Rams are prepared to take on some salary to facilitate a move. Kupp’s status aside, the lingering Stafford matter — particularly given this year’s available QBs — will be the most significant piece of the Rams’ offseason.

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