Big Blue View
It is nice to talk about, but could it become reality?
With speculation floating around that Matthew Stafford’s future with the Los Angeles Rams is uncertain, some have latched on to the idea that the New York could solve their quarterback problem with a trade for the 16-year veteran.
Let’s discuss the idea.
Could the Rams really be considering parting ways with the 37-year-old? Would Stafford, near the end of his career, want to play for a team that has gone 9-25 over the past two seasons and has a head coach on a win or else hot seat? What would it cost, both in terms of money and trade capital? Would it be a good idea for the quarterback-needy Giants?
We know that the Rams are “highly motivated” to trade veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp. We know Stafford’s wife is not happy about that.
We know that Stafford has a contract for the next two years with a total of $49 million in base salary over that time, but that it is little more than a placeholder. The only guaranteed money in it is a $4 million bonus due March 19 if Stafford is still on the Rams’ roster. NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported last year that “the quarterback and the Rams are likely to play out this season and then reassess.”
The Rams and Stafford are now at the reassessment stage. What will happen? Sports Illustrated NFL insider Albert Breer isn’t sure. He recently wrote this:
Stafford put together another Stafford year, through which he helped the team navigate through offensive line issues, receiver injuries and a 1–4 start. The Rams finished 10–7 and NFC West champions. Los Angeles thumped the 13-win Vikings in the wild-card round and went to the wire with the Eagles in a Philly snowstorm in the divisional round, coming back from a two-touchdown deficit with less than five minutes left, largely on the back of Stafford.
So now, Stafford, who turns 37 this week, goes to the table holding the cards. Is the strain of last year’s negotiation still there? Is he going to look for another contract adjustment or, with just two years left on his deal, a brand-new extension?
I know how his coaches feel about him and the job he’s done, and clearly, the goal is to work this all out. But these are fair questions.
Breer added that the Giants are at the top of the list of teams that will “certainly will pay attention to how this plays out.”
It is certainly an idea. A really, really big idea.
The entire NFL world knows that the Giants need to solve their quarterback problem. If they don’t, coach Brian Daboll probably loses his job. GM Joe Schoen might, too.
We know that the Giants plan likely includes, in some form, a veteran mentor/bridge/placeholder and a draft pick, either...
