Matthew Stafford, Rams Headed for Split? Trade Talks Heat Up

Are Matt Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams headed for a divorce?

Some signs hanging over the franchise quarterback appear to trend in that direction. Multiple reports indicate that the Rams have let Stafford negotiate with other teams in the wake of asking for a raise to his current deal.

Reportedly, Stafford is seeking $50 million a year — a number which would put him on par with the likes of Kirk Cousins and Tua Tagovailoa. The Rams are a a bit unsure about committing that hefty of a price to a QB in his late 30s with injury concerns. As such, the possibility Stafford heads elsewhere is very real.

Would this be the best thing for both parties?

The prospect of Stafford having to restart elsewhere at age 37 probably isn’t ideal for himself and his family. LA is a very stable franchise, and one that has arguably the best head coach in the sport. Going to a full-on rebuild in New York with the Giants sounds utterly disastrous. The same can be said for the likes of Tennessee, Cleveland, or practically any team starved for a signal-caller.

Las Vegas is perhaps the team best positioned to make a deal with the Rams. Pete Carroll and Tom Brady likely won’t want to wait around to groom a young draft pick at the position. There’s enough on the Raiders’ preexisting roster to make things potentially palatable. Couple that with some serious cap space, and Las Vegas can both absorb Stafford’s deal while also building a better team around him.

As for the Rams, moving off Stafford without any natural replacement is a huge gamble. Aaron Rodgers is out there for the taking — though would Sean McVay really want that headache?

It’ll be very interesting — to say the least — how all of this shakes out.