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.
[RELATED: Giants Pursued Stafford Before 2024 Trade Deadline]
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.
While….this is epic….who is Matt going to throw the ball to?
Brock Bowers coming off a 112 catch 1200 yard season and Jakobi Meyers coming off a 1,000 yard season with subpar QB play would be my guesses.
If the Raiders did pull off a trade like this, let’s work outside the box a little shall we. What about a package deal that would include a WR Cooper Kupp and Stafford going to the Raiders for maybe a Max Crosby and shall we say a second in 2025 and a first and fourth in 2026 going back to the Rams. The Rams did say they were not going to have Kupp on their 2025 roster, gave him permission to look for a trade to see if he could find any interested team, since the Raiders are looking for a QB, why not package him with someone who had good connections with.
There’s also been talk the Rams could just cut Kupp if a trade can’t be worked out, so I think your trade scenario is was too much going to the Rams.
Theres no world where Kupp and Stafford go to the Raiders for Crosby, a 2nd, a 1st, and a 4th
At best Rams could fetch a Matt Ryan return from the Raiders of two 3rds (what Colts gave up to get Matt Ryan from the Falcons) or the equivalent of two 3rds, maybe a 2026 2nd
For Kupp whos coming off 3 straight down years (injuries, limited production at 800 700 700 yards) and is owed a 27 mill and 29 mill cap hit the next two years, Rams would be lucky to get a 4th and get out from under the contract.
Maybe you could talk to the Ravens about Kupp for Bateman and a 4th or even a compensatory 3rd they always seem to get.
Crosby would make that far too rich a price and at the same time, very few teams need Crosby less than the Rams do.
20 td’ and age 37 going into age 38 is suddenly worth $$$50 million plus draft capital…..insane….
I think the Raiders plus Stafford might still be the worst team in that division. Trading a first rounder wouldn’t help.