Turf Show Times
Why the Rams couldn’t get a first rounder for Stafford straight up, but could get creative with these 3 teams
The premise of the Los Angeles Rams trading quarterback Matthew Stafford can no longer be classified as a baseless rumor or speculation because this year the franchise is putting up signals that the team is ready to make some sweeping changes. Though there is a significant difference between trying to trade Cooper Kupp (not going to be easy) and trading Stafford, the latter doing a lot more damage to the continuity of the offense than the former, fans can’t ignore the possibility that the Rams are going to be looking beyond 2025 with this offseason.
Before I’m accused of simply “being a hater”, my offseason plan included keeping Stafford and actually restructuring his contract to save money.
But just because it’s what I might do, that’s a much different question than what the L.A. Rams might do. Especially if Stafford, who requested a trade from the Lions only four years ago, tells Les Snead and Sean McVay that he wants to finish his career somewhere else.
While a rumored team like the Giants hasn’t won a playoff game since 2011, New York does have a quarterback friendly setup with head coach Brian Daboll, offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, receiver Malik Nabers, and new assistant quarterbacks coach Chad Hall, who also happens to be Stafford’s brother-in-law.
Could the Rams get the Giants’ number 3 overall pick for Stafford?
No chance.
So what could the Rams get from New York in a Stafford trade? And what would L.A.’s best offer for Stafford be?
Let’s talk over some possibilities.
We can’t compare trading Stafford at 37 to what the Texans got for Deshaun Watson, the Seahawks got for Russell Wilson, or the Lions got for Stafford when he was 33.
Teams won’t be racing to out-bid each other for a 37-year-old who has been really good — not really great — in the last three years, and also most likely wants a new contract agreement with his next franchise.
In fact, no team has traded a first round pick for a player since 2022 when Watson and Wilson were traded for multiple 1s. Only Sean Payton has commanded a first round pick return over the past three years.
Instead, we turn to Rodgers, who was traded to the Jets on April 24, 2023 with a first round pick and a fifth round pick, as the Packers sent back a first round pick (2 picks higher than New York’s original selection), a second round pick, a sixth round pick, and a conditional first round pick that ended up being a second rounder because Rodgers missed virtually the entire 2023 season.
Rodgers was 40 when he was traded. But...
