The Rams and Matthew Stafford’s agents will wait to talk until the combine
The Los Angeles Rams are expecting at least a first round pick in return if they trade Matthew Stafford, but still want the quarterback to return for a fifth season in L.A. with Sean McVay. This is according to a new report at Fox by Jordan Schultz, which highlights a commitment by the Rams, and probably Stafford, to bring the quarterback back in the fold in 2025.
The Rams and Stafford’s agents will meet at the combine, per Schultz, to discuss their options moving forward. That means that nothing will happen with Stafford until next weekend at the soonest, as the combine starts on February 27th and runs through March 2nd.
Several teams, per league sources, have called L.A. about Stafford and the belief is a first-round pick would probably be the asking price should the Rams choose to make a deal. Again, the Rams want him back (he also carries a $49.3 million cap hit if released) and there’s been nothing to this point that would suggest Stafford doesn’t want to play for them, but this is undoubtedly one of the biggest storylines heading into free agency next month. Before then, the Rams and Stafford’s agent are planning to meet in Indianapolis to see if they can find common ground.
Expecting a first round pick for a 37-year-old quarterback with contract issues is a bold request. Not even Aaron Rodgers, coming off of two MVPs in the previous three seasons, returned a first round pick to the Packers in 2023.
However, perhaps in a “weak” draft class the Rams could get a bad first round pick. The problem there is that most teams with bad first round picks are set at quarterback, hence that’s why they’re picking late in the first round.
The best team that needs a quarterback, other than the Rams if they trade Stafford, is either the Minnesota Vikings at pick 24 or the Pittsburgh Steelers at 21.
Obviously, if the Vikings re-sign Sam Darnold or strongly believe in J.J. McCarthy, they don’t need a quarterback. That leaves the Steelers, a team that is rarely in a hurry to trade first round picks.
If the Rams and Stafford’s agents meet in Indianapolis and agree on a reasonable contract extension, then this is all a moot point. If they don’t, that’s when the possibilities of a wild offseason could really start heating up. But that probably won’t happen for at least another 10 days.
