INDIANAPOLIS — Matthew Stafford‘s representatives remained in contact with the Giants here at the NFL Combine on Thursday. But the Las Vegas Raiders continued to emerge as a serious threat to win this recruiting sweepstakes for the L.A. Rams’ quarterback.
The Raiders and Stafford, 37, have found common ground on what a potential new contract could look like if the Rams trade him to the desert, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
And the NFL clarified that Raiders minority owner Tom Brady did not tamper with Stafford by having lunch with him in Montana, since the Rams already had given the quarterback and his agent permission to speak to other teams.
Neither the Giants nor Raiders have exciting prospects for their 2026 seasons. But Vegas can sell a fresh start with new head coach Pete Carroll, a quick flight from Stafford’s current home in the Los Angeles area and an estimated $96 million in salary cap space, per overthecap.com, to spend on Stafford and free agents.
The Raiders’ offensive line actually ranked lower (No. 26) in Pro Football Focus‘ end of season rankings than the Giants’ O-line (No. 23) did. But several sources have pointed out that for Stafford to pick New York ($48 million in cap space), he would have to feel confident that Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll would be able to put together a front and an offense to protect him.
Not to mention this Giants regime is on the hot seat.
Returning to the Rams on a reworked contract also remains an option given that it would be Stafford’s best option to play winning football in both 2025 and 2026, at least.
Rapport with the offensive playcaller would no doubt be a factor, too.
Sean McVay and Stafford have won a Super Bowl together. Chip Kelly is the Raiders’ OC after winning the national championship with Ohio State.
The Giants’ situation is still not clear.
Co-owner John Mara suggested to Daboll at the end of the season that he should give up playcalling, which pointed to Mike Kafka possibly getting it back. But the Daily News heard Wednesday that as of this moment, there has been no movement toward Kafka being the playcaller again.
So it’s possible it could be Daboll again.
One league source suggested that the parameters of a potential trade for Stafford to any team might look something like the Green Bay Packers’ 2023 trade of Aaron Rodgers to the Jets.
The teams swapped 2023 first-round picks. The Jets gave the Packers a 2023 second-rounder, a 2023 sixth-rounder and a conditional 2024 second-rounder that would have become a first-round pick if Rodgers had played 65% of the snaps in 2024.
And the Jets got Rodgers and a 2023 fifth.
That should be an easy price for either the Giants or Raiders to pay, since it would protect their third and sixth overall picks in April’s first round, respectively, to use on a premium player rather than a QB.
Losing Stafford to the Raiders would be a huge disappointment for the Giants.
Once the Stafford domino falls, the Vikings’ Sam Darnold is the next quarterback contract expected to dictate this year’s game of musical chairs around the league — depending on whether he stays in Minnesota or bolts.
Aaron Rodgers would have the opportunity to try to complete his desired union with the Rams.
The Giants are guaranteed to add a veteran quarterback somehow, through a trade or signing. But losing Stafford might also lead Schoen to take his biggest “swing” at QB in the draft instead.
The Tennessee Titans basically took out a billboard and put the No. 1 overall pick up for sale during new GM Mike Borgonzi’s press conference in January. And the only way Schoen would be able to assure the Giants their pick of Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders would be to charge up.
This much seems clear: Schoen meant what he said. He is “taking swings” at QB. Big swings.
Swinging and missing on Stafford, however, would be a gut punch to start this pivotal offseason.