Matthew Stafford out of the NFC West? Yes please. The rocket armed former first overall pick who endured many painful losing seasons in Detroit, earned his Super Bowl ring at the 49ers expense during the 2021 season with the Los Angles Rams. Now having just turned 37 years-old, Stafford wants one final payday. The Rams are reportedly offering around $40 million, Stafford likes the sound of $50-60 million better. He has a good argument. While in some order the top three quarterbacks in the NFL are Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, Stafford on a good day could be anywhere from fourth to eighth. He’s clearly in the next realm of quality signal callers. The arm is still there, it was never really about running around in the pocket, Stafford is an old school gunslinger with a couple years of throws still left in the chamber. The Rams have given him permission to seek the deal they won’t give him on the open market. So is this just a bluff by LA? Does Stafford really want to leave? If he goes, where is he likely to go? For 49ers fans how does it affect the NFC West if he does leave and who replaces him? Glad you asked.
I’m not buying the laughable attempt at a bluff the Rams threw at NFL insider Diana Rusini who “reported” (was asked to report for a favor later), Los Angles was comfortable with former 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garrapolo as their future behind center. If comfortable means wearing a fresh meat suit into a piranha tank, then the Rams are comfortable with Jimmy as QB1 in 2025. If the Rams are serious about moving Stafford they clearly have a plan in mind. You don’t allow your quarterback to shop around without a plan, there aren’t enough to go around as it is.
The most likely scenario which fulfills all party interests if the Rams are serious about moving Stafford is a trade to the Raiders.
From the Las Vegas side of things, this is why it would work:
-Raiders minority owner Tom Brady could convince Stafford to dawn the Silver and Black, assuring him he knows what it takes to play better and longer than expected. One look at Brady and the then former Rams vet wants what Brady is having for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
-Pete Carroll is 73. By the time a rookie quarterback is playing at a high level for Pete, he’ll be in the old folks home and dominos will be his game. Pete doesn’t have time to wait and a vet is the way to go.
-Money. As desperate as the Raiders are to have a top quarterback after the majority of the last 15 years being putrid at the most important position in sports, Vegas will give Stafford the deal the Rams won’t and more. Other teams could become involved, but my bet is the Raiders will pay more and more years than any other team. Stafford wants to win, but he wants a final pay day more. It’s always about the money. He’s going to the Hall of Fame, he’s got his ring. He gets paid in Vegas big and no state income tax. Jackpot.
-One drawback could be Stafford wants to have a chance at winning and with playoff teams in the Broncos, Chargers and Chiefs in the division, that’s unlikely.
Why the Rams would do it:
-First, this is likely a bluff at this point, but if Stafford seriously wants one final big pay day at his number, this could get nasty. Once that happens, egos get in the way and he’s likely gone.
-The Raiders wouldn’t give up the 6th overall pick in the draft, but they own the 37th pick overall in the second round. That could be enough for the Rams. That hypothetical move would give the Rams picks 26, 37, 90 and 100. Four picks in the top 100 to continue to build up an already talented young team and brace for a couple free agent losses.
-Los Angeles would then likely pivot to former USC quarterback Sam Darnold. Darnold broke out as an MVP candidate in Minnesota last season. He is from Southern California and more importantly played for Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell, who coached under Rams Head Coach Sean McVay. Darnold also ran Kyle Shanahan’s offense for a year with the 49ers in 2023, so he is more than familiar with the offense LA runs. The former 3rd overall pick of the draft is younger (27), so he can grow with the current crop of young Rams talent. Los Angeles is releasing receiver Cooper Kupp, a Stafford favorite, a sign they are going in a younger direction. That doesn’t mean they are rebuilding, they aren’t. LA has a boatload of talent and Darnold might better fit their future and with the season he is coming off of, McVay may think the time is right. Darnold would also jump at the $40 million Stafford is reportedly turning down. Cheaper, younger, but not better. This could only happen if the Vikings were to not franchise Darnold who is coming off a great season under a one-year deal in Minnesota. The Vikings drafted Michigan National Championship quarterback JJ McCarthy with the 9th overall pick in the first round in the 2024 NFL draft and many around the league expect him to start in 2025 after Darnold struggled the last couple games of the season.
From a 49ers perspective, I think it’s a win. Stafford is not only physically gifted, he’s a tough out. He’s a notorious comeback kid and just has that it factor you hate playing against. Darnold had one solid year, but he isn’t Stafford, at least not yet.