Both Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams downplayed his contract renegotiation that occurred during training camp ahead of the 2024 season. But had the team not played their hand right, Stafford could have been captaining a whole other offense this season.
According to reporting by The Athletic’s Diana Russini, the Minnesota Vikings closely “monitored Matthew Stafford’s difficult contract negotiation with the Rams.”
Vikings Watched Rams — Matthew Stafford Negotiations Closely
Of course, the two parties came to an agreement to keep the 36-year-old in LA for at least another year, although his contract goes through 2026, the renegotiation makes it more team-friendly if they want to move on over the next two seasons.
The Vikings now look like a viable Super Bowl contender, with Sam Darnold at the helm, not to mention an offense featuring wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, behind one of the league’s best offensive lines and complemented by the league’s best defense by EPA per play.
Meanwhile, the offense has struggled to find any momentum early in games, scoring just 21 points per game, the second-worst offensive output of the Sean McVay Era.
In many ways, the Vikings would be a better place for an aging quarterback, based on their chances of making the playoffs. But at the beginning of the year LA was seen as the team with better odds of winning the big game. Their preseason odds were +3000, 13th best odds, as opposed to the Vikings, who were + 10,000, tied for 24th.
The Vikings also drafted J.J. McCarthy, so having a bonafide Top-10 quarterback running the show, while McCarthy sat behind him would have been as ideal as it gets.
Of course, for a trade of that magnitude to have occurred, the asking price would have been significant. Could a Stafford trade have fetched a first-round pick? Stafford was traded to the Rams in 2021 for two firsts and Jared Goff. Carson Wentz was traded to the Indianapolis Colts for a first and a third. So there is precedence.
The Rams now find themselves needing to plan for Stafford’s inevitable departure, as they currently have no succession plan at the position, and depending on how this season plays out, may have to deal Stafford at a diminished return value to do so.
