Matthew Stafford Resolution Approaching; Latest On Raiders’, Giants’ Pursuits

The top storyline around the NFL continues to be the uncertain future of Matthew Stafford. A resolution (with the Rams or otherwise) regarding the in-demand quarterback could be coming soon, though.

An expectation exists that this situation will reach a conclusion by the end of the Combine, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes (video link). Any potential trade cannot take place until the new league year begins in mid-March, but an agreement can of course be worked out at any time. The Raiders and Giants are the top contenders on the trade front, but another arrangement with the Rams is still possible. Stafford is believed to be seeking $50MM annually on average with his next pact, a price point Los Angeles is reportedly not prepared to meet.

Nevertheless, the Rams are still in contention to attain their stated goal of keeping the 37-year-old in place for at least 2025. Stafford is contemplating the requirement of uprooting his family after four years with Los Angeles, Rapoport’s colleague Mike Garafolo adds; starting over at this point in his career would be notable even with a lucrative offer awaiting him on a new team. Given the fact the Rams have a young core and reached the divisional round of the playoffs in 2024, there are also football-related arguments to be made in favor of staying in place.

For that to be possible, though, it has long been clear another raise will be required. Stafford and the Rams agreed o accelerate some of his future compensation to 2024 last summer, avoiding a training camp holdout with a short-term solution. A year-to-year approach is still in play with the Rams in need of a successor at some point in the near future regardless of what happens with Stafford. The Super Bowl winner could wind up agreeing to a restructure light on years but once again featuring a notable bump in pay. Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post passes on talk of a $55MM-per-year deal taking place last night at the Combine, which the Rams (like usual in recent years) have not attended. A major change in approach on Los Angeles’ part would be needed to agree to terms along those lines.

Team and player are nevertheless set to remain in communication in this case. Stafford and Rams head coach Sean McVay have spoken multiple times recently, per NFL Network’s Peter Schrager (video link). Conversations between the two will continue as the parties weigh their respective options. A report from Dianna Russini, Jourdan Rodrigue, Tashan Reed, Dan Duggan and Vic Tafur of The Athletic adds that Stafford will meet with the Rams at their facility today (subscription required). Should those talks fail to yield a resolution, the possibility of a trade will remain.

The Raiders – led in no small part by minority owner Tom Brady – are the top team to watch with respect to Stafford suitors. Vegas has been in contact with the two-time Pro Bowler’s camp since he was given permission by the Rams to seek out a trade. Those conversations have yielded at least the framework of an agreement on a new contract. Just like the Giants, however, the Raiders are not prepared to part with their top selection in April’s draft to swing a deal. Los Angeles has been connected to an asking price of a Day 1 pick, but a package built on other draft capital could wind up being sufficient if negotiations on a restructure fall through.

In the event the Raiders or Giants manage to work out trade compensation, new details on a Stafford investment have emerged. The Athletic piece notes both teams have held discussions on a two-year pact which would include between $90MM and $100MM in guaranteed money. Stafford – whose career earnings sit at $364MM – will be in line for significant compensation one way or the other during the waning stages of his NFL tenure.

While New York is still in the running at this point, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reports the Giants are seen as the underdogs in this three-team competition. General manager Joe Schoen has made it clear veteran and rookie quarterbacks are on the team’s to-do list, but it would be interesting to see how he would pivot in the event Stafford proved to be unattainable. As Raanan adds, failing to secure the former No. 1 pick would not be for a lack of effort on the part of Schoen and Co.

The Raiders are expected to move on from Gardner Minshew after one year with the team, creating a vacancy on the QB depth chart. Per The Athletic, members of Vegas’ offensive staff prefer adding a veteran under center this offseason in lieu of adding a rookie. The 2025 class is not held in high regard at the quarterback spot, although the Raiders have been linked to trading up for Cam Ward recently.

With finances representing a major hurdle for Los Angeles, Rodrigue noted during an appearance on SumerSports that an impasse still exists between Stafford and the Rams. The financial figure on a new pact, but also structure, will need to be worked on for a new agreement to be reached. Failing that, negotiations on a trade could very well pick up with the new league year approaching.