INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 26 (UPI) — The Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants expressed interest in a potential trade for Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Sources told The Athletic, the New York Daily News and Fox Sports about the trade interest Wednesday. Stafford, 37, is signed through 2026.
Representatives from the Giants and Stafford met Tuesday in Indianapolis, where the NFL is holding its annual scouting combine. Sources told Fox Sports and NFL Network that Tom Brady, a minority owner of the Raiders, also met with Stafford in Montana.
The Rams, who previously gave Stafford’s representatives permission to speak to other teams, met with the quarterback earlier this off-season.
NFL trades can become official March 12. The league’s legal tampering window opens March 10. The Rams owe Stafford a $4 million roster bonus on March 19.
Stafford completed 65.8% of his throws for 3,726 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions over 16 starts for the Rams last season. The two-time Pro Bowl selection completed 62.6% of his throws for 3,965 yards, 24 scores and 11 interceptions over 15 starts in 2023.
Stafford, who led the Rams to a Super Bowl title in 2021, missed eight games the next season due to concussions and a spinal injury.
Coach Sean McVay said Tuesday on the Fitz & Whit podcast that the Rams want Stafford to return in 2025-26.
“There’s no discrepancy on us wanting him to continue to lead the way and be our quarterback,” McVay said. “The interesting and the challenging dilemma and dynamics within this are, ‘Hey, how do you continuously as a head coach look at the short term and the long term and be able to figure out what does that really look like?’
“There is no dispute — and let’s not get it twisted in regarding to anybody wanting him to be our quarterback. Now, there’s layers to it. You have to be able to say, ‘Hey, how do we continuously build? How do we support him? How do we make sure that he’s getting what is his worth relative to those things?'”
Giants general manager Joe Schoen said Tuesday that reporters needed to talk to the Rams when he was asked about his interest in Stafford at the combine.
“I think it’s the most important position in football,” Schoen said. “We have one on our roster right now. I think it’s important where we address it. The play has to be better than what it’s been. Because of injuries, we played four quarterbacks this year.
“We played three last year. It would be nice to have one guy out there who can give you the best chance to win games and also stay healthy. that is an important position and we need better play out of that position than what we’ve had.”
Raiders general manager John Spytek also said Tuesday that he didn’t want to talk about “other team’s players.”
“I would just say that if there is an opportunity for any player that we think can add value to the Raiders, we will look into it,” Spytek said.
The Giants have the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Raiders have the No. 6 overall pick. Schoen and Spytec said they would be interested in potential trades to move up or down in the draft order.
Aidan O’Connell is the only quarterback on the Raiders’ roster through next season. Tommy DeVito is the Giants’ lone quarterback.
