Fans of the Los Angeles Rams heaved a collective sigh of relief after quarterback Matthew Stafford agreed to a restructured deal, ending all the trade speculations.
Stafford’s decision also threw a monkey wrench into the plans of other teams looking to acquire him, especially with the 2025 NFL draft just around the corner.
For instance, the Las Vegas Raiders and the New York Giants were both reportedly ready to offer as much as $100 million for the 37-year-old signal-caller. Now, they have to look elsewhere.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said many teams were monitoring Stafford’s situation, but it was clear that the one-time Super Bowl champion had no intention of leaving the Rams. He, however, allegedly had one main issue with the team before agreeing to the new deal.
“I go back to what a source close to Stafford told me earlier in the week: He wanted to remain a Ram but needed to feel appreciated and respected,” wrote Fowler.
“He ranked 16th among quarterbacks in 2025 cash owed ($27 million). That wasn’t commensurate with his skillset as a top-10 passer. But Stafford had a great situation in Los Angeles, and trading him made little logical sense.”
Still, Fowler noted that the trade rumors surrounding the two-time Pro Bowler “appeared very real,” particularly with the Giants, who have long been pining for a proven leader.
“As sources told me, the Giants spent the better part of the past month on this and felt at times that Stafford would be a Giant,” added Fowler.
“They worked very hard to put together an enticing package for both the player and the team until (Rams) GM (general manager) Les Snead notified them that Stafford was staying.”