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 discovered frequent floor on what a possible new contract may seem like if the Rams commerce him to the desert, in response to the Las Vegas Assessment-Journal.
And the NFL clarified that Raiders minority proprietor Tom Brady didn’t tamper with Stafford by having lunch with him in Montana, because the Rams already had given the quarterback and his agent permission to talk to different groups.
Neither the Giants nor Raiders have thrilling prospects for his or her 2026 seasons. However Vegas can promote a recent begin with new head coach Pete Carroll, a fast flight from Stafford’s present house within the Los Angeles space and an estimated $96 million in wage cap house, per overthecap.com, to spend on Stafford and free brokers.
The Raiders’ offensive line truly ranked decrease (No. 26) in Professional Soccer Focus‘ end of season rankings than the Giants’ O-line (No. 23) did. However a number of sources have identified that for Stafford to select New York ($48 million in cap house), he must really feel assured that Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll would be capable to put collectively a entrance and an offense to guard him.
To not point out this Giants regime is on the new seat.
Returning to the Rams on a reworked contract additionally stays an possibility on condition that it might be Stafford’s finest choice to play profitable soccer in each 2025 and 2026, at the least.
Rapport with the offensive playcaller would little question be an element, too.
Sean McVay and Stafford have gained a Tremendous Bowl collectively. Chip Kelly is the Raiders’ OC after profitable the nationwide championship with Ohio State.
The Giants’ state of affairs remains to be not clear.
So it’s attainable it may very well be Daboll once more.
One league supply recommended that the parameters of a possible commerce for Stafford to any workforce would possibly look one thing just like the Inexperienced Bay Packers’ 2023 commerce of Aaron Rodgers to the Jets.
The groups 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 may have turn out to be a first-round choose if Rodgers had performed 65% of the snaps in 2024.
And the Jets obtained Rodgers and a 2023 fifth.
That needs to be a straightforward value for both the Giants or Raiders to pay, since it might defend their third and sixth general picks in April’s first spherical, respectively, to make use of on a premium participant fairly than a QB.
Dropping Stafford to the Raiders could be an enormous disappointment for the Giants.
As soon as the Stafford domino falls, the Vikings’ Sam Darnold is the following quarterback contract anticipated to dictate this 12 months’s recreation of musical chairs across the league — relying on whether or not he stays in Minnesota or bolts.
Aaron Rodgers would have the chance to attempt to full his desired union with the Rams.
The Giants are assured so as to add a veteran quarterback in some way, via a commerce or signing. However dropping Stafford may additionally lead Schoen to take his largest “swing” at QB within the draft as an alternative.
The Tennessee Titans principally took out a billboard and put the No. 1 general choose up on the market throughout new GM Mike Borgonzi’s press convention in January. And the one manner Schoen would be capable to guarantee the Giants their choose of Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders could be to cost up.
This a lot appears clear: Schoen meant what he stated. He’s “taking swings” at QB. Huge swings.
Swinging and lacking on Stafford, nevertheless, could be a intestine punch to start out this pivotal offseason.
