Big Blue View
“I just don’t see it.”
What’s real, and is just fodder for bloggers, podcasters and TV talking heads during the NFL offseason when it comes to Matthew Stafford, the New York Giants, and the Los Angeles Rams?
Erin Coscarelli, co-host of the Bleav in Rams podcast, joined the ‘Valentine’s Views’ podcast on Thursday to help us separate fact from fiction.
The Rams have a young team with an old quarterback? Do they want to serve the future, or live in the present?
“I think it’s time for the Rams to be serious about what this team’s identity is,” Coscarelli said. “And what this team’s identity was this past season was young infused with old. Matthew Stafford’s 37 years old, and don’t get me wrong, he can still sling it, but they have to be realistic about it.
“So, what does the future look like? Are they going to find a bridge quarterback? Maybe trade Stafford?
Stafford does have a contract through 2026 with $49 million in base salary over those two years. There is, though, only $4 million in guaranteed money. That is an average $24.5 million annually. There are more than 15 quarterbacks earning an annual salary above that figure, and the sides have been expected to revisit that.
“I think he wants as he’s getting older some metrics in place that show up in a more guaranteed profile for his contract,” Coscarelli said. “But, the Rams have to be smart about this. They have to realize that Stafford has a year or two years. Do they want to get draft capital for him now while his value is relatively high? Maybe. Time will tell.”
If the Giants have a legitimate chance to pull off a Stafford trade, they still have to decide whether or not they should.
“Let’s say the Giants trade for Matthew Stafford. Well, the Jets experiment didn’t really work out very well ... I’m not saying [Aaron] Rodgers is what Stafford is, but do I think the Giants are a Stafford away from a championship? No, not really. So, I don’t think it makes a whole lot of sense, but I think the Rams are always going to listen if a deal is put in front of them,” Coscarelli said.
“Maybe they’ll be all ears. I just don’t think it’s going to end up happening with the Giants, and I don’t even know if Giants fans actually want that.”
Coscarelli does not believe that to be the case.
“All signs point to the fact that he wants to stay in LA. I think he has four kids,” Coscarelli said. “Of course you want to protect your future ... like what happened with Saquon [Barkley], I’m sorry, you’re a player, you’re taking hits, you’ve got to go where maybe the money is the...
