In a recent article on ESPN, NFL Week 6 latest buzz, predictions, questions, fantasy tips, Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano discussed Matthew Stafford’s future with the Los Angeles Rams and the possibility that he could be traded ahead of the trade deadline on November 5th.
“With the Rams’ season on life support, could you see a team going to them and asking about Matthew Stafford?” Graziano pondered. “It might take an injury to an established starter on a contending team, but I wonder if the Rams or Stafford would consider it.”
Would The Rams Trade Matthew Stafford
While there aren’t many injured starting quarterbacks so far, there have been a few. The New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr is expected to miss several weeks and Miami Dolphins Tua Tagovailoa has been out since September 12th. Indianapolis Colts QB, Anthony Richards has also struggled to stay healthy.
Although those injuries don’t offer the Rams a lot of potential trade partners, there are plenty of quarterback-needy teams, some of which are in desperate situations.
The season’s start hasn’t gone as planned for the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants and their quarterbacking has a lot to do with that. Not only that but both coaching staffs are on the hot seat.
Could this added pressure make them make a bold offer to fix it? Fowler also offered up the Las Vegas Raiders as a trade destination.
Of course, it takes two to tango. Would the Rams move on from Matthew Stafford?
“The Los Angeles Rams have looked at Stafford’s future as a year-to-year proposition.” Fowler writes. “His reworked contract last offseason reflects that, pushing his 2024 pay into the $40 million range but lessening his guarantees in 2025, essentially allowing both sides to decide whether they want to remain married at that point. This is a situation to watch closely, because neither player nor team seems to know how or when it will end. Stafford is 36 and has dealt with injuries recently. Does he want to play after this season?”
The Rams losing efforts early in the complicates their near future. Father Time is undefeated and Stafford is closer to the end of his career than the beginning.
Les Snead has a saying, ‘If it is inevitable, then make it immediate’ There is an inevitability to the end of Stafford’s time with the team, which means the chance of a trade cannot be ruled out.
The team has several intriguing young stars on both sides of the ball. That could be the new ‘load-bearing walls’ that the Rams rebuild around, but it would also put them in a tough spot without an answer or a succession plan for the most important position in football.
That could change if the trade compensation included a quarterback, but that muddies the pool of partners.
At the end of the day, all this trade talk depends on winning football games.
“The Rams and their quarterback have several questions to answer,” Fowler continued. “which are easier to put off if the team is winning. And maybe L.A. can regain its winning ways once Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua and others return. It’s also worth noting the Jimmy Garoppolo signing got the attention of some around the league, because Garoppolo could be an insurance option down the road. While interested teams are unclear, the Raiders have a glaring need at the position.”