Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has been at the center of NFL rumors this week in Indianapolis, with the club allowing him to talk to other teams. When the NFL Scouting Combine ends this weekend, a decision on Stafford could be made.
After Los Angeles was eliminated by the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL playoffs, the biggest question surrounding Stafford was whether or not he’d play next season. In late January, the 37-year-old quarterback announced he would take the field in 2025.
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- Matthew Stafford stats (ESPN): 3,762 passing yards, 20-8 TD-INT, 65.8% completion rate, 7.3 ypa, 93.7 QB rating
At that point, a return to Los Angeles seemed inevitable. The Rams have a young roster that is elevated by its star quarterback, and with a Cooper Kupp trade inevitable, continuity at signal-caller seemed imperative. However, NFL rumors surfaced in February that Stafford could be traded.
In the weeks since the first report, the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants have been heavily tied to the Pro Bowl quarterback. The Rams granted his agent permission to speak with other teams, finding out what other clubs were willing to offer in a multi-year contract extension. Now, a blockbuster trade could be on the horizon during the NFL Combine.
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Will Matthew Stafford Get Traded?
According to The Athletic‘s Dianna Russini, the Giants and Raiders are both eyeing a two-year contract extension with Stafford worth $90 million total. He would receive a $45 million average annual value and a multi-year commitment, something Los Angeles hasn’t been willing to make.
- Matthew Stafford contract (Spotrac): $49.666 million cap hit in 2025, $53.666 million cap hit in 2026
Stafford will meet with the Rams on Friday at the team’s headquarters to discuss his future. Until now, Los Angeles has been adamant about only offering a one-year extension worth $40 million per season. It’s a stark contrast to what other clubs have privately told the Super Bowl winner that they can offer.
Vincent Bonsignore of The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that the Raiders “have found common ground” with Stafford’s agent on a multi-year deal worth $45 million per season. Now, it’s all about Las Vegas finding out if the Rams’ asking price is reasonable enough to make a deal.
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As for that asking price, previous NFL rumors suggested Los Angeles wanted a first-round pick in exchange for Stafford. More realistically, given his age and the cost of a contract extension, the Rams (26th overall pick) would likely be swapping first-round picks with the Giants (3rd overall pick) or Raiders (6th overall pick). Alternatively, New York or Las Vegas could just send its 2026 first-round pick.
While there’s still a chance Stafford is the Rams quarterback in 2025, the odds of that happening have taken a significant hit over the last week. If he is traded, Los Angeles is expected to be in the mix for Aaron Rodgers, Sam Darnold, and Kirk Cousins while also prioritizing the position early in the 2025 NFL Draft.
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