Okay, so get this: The Los Angeles Rams are staring down a 2-4 record, right? Wild card odds are actually better than most people think, but dude, that window is tiny. If the Rams drop Sunday’s game to the Las Vegas Raiders, forget those long-shot playoff dreams. That’s when the “fire sale” talk goes from whispers to a full-blown roar, and the biggest name on that list? Matthew Stafford.
Stafford’s Unstoppable Veto Power Is Key
Here’s the kicker: it doesn’t even matter if Stafford has a no-trade clause. The guy is rich and accomplished enough that he can just say “nah” to a trade. He could just refuse to show up if he doesn’t like where he’s going. Imagine the Rams trying to send him to, say, the Browns, and Stafford’s like, “Yeah, no thanks, I’m good.” But then you think about a team like the Minnesota Vikings, who are sitting pretty at 5-0. Reuniting with Kevin O’Connell and throwing bombs to Justin Jefferson? Stafford might actually like that idea. The Rams don’t just get to ship him anywhere they want. He holds all the cards here, and it’s hard to believe he’d play for any team he isn’t totally bought into at this point in his career.
The Money, The Picks, And Who’s Calling?
If the Rams pull the trigger on a trade, it’s all about the financials and what they get back. Stafford makes just under a million bucks a game, so the acquiring team would be on the hook for about $11 million for the rest of his $16 million base salary. That’s a huge chunk of change the Rams would save, plus they’d get off the hook for his 2027 money. That would be massive for L.A., especially with so many 2027 free agents on their roster. As for what they’d want? Forget a QB in return; they’ve already got Ty Simpson and Stetson Bennett. They’d be after draft picks, probably starting with a first-rounder. Would a 5-0 Vikings team, thinking about a playoff run, give up a pick like 28 or 30 for Stafford, even if he’s struggled this season? Minnesota probably isn’t thinking about replacing Kyler Murray right now though.
But the Vikings aren’t the only ones who might be interested. The Giants were definitely hot on Stafford last year; could he link up with Malik Nabers there? What about a recent Super Bowl winner like the Eagles? Or a trip back to Georgia to help the Falcons with Kevin Stefanski? And you know Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos would probably consider it. A first-round pick would absolutely be the starting point, even with Stafford’s struggles this season.
So, here we are. It sure looks possible. The Rams are set up for a trade if they end up 2-5 or 2-6 because they’ve already drafted Simpson and should pave the way for him in that scenario. All eyes are on Sunday’s game against the Raiders. If the Rams lose that one, the Stafford situation heats up fast, and it’s gonna be wild to see if he goes, and more importantly, where he *wants* to go. What a mess, right?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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