Thursday's upcoming primetime contest between the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings feels decisive. If the Rams are defeated, they'll fall to 2-5 and remain in last place in the ultra-competitive NFC West. General manager Les Snead could admit defeat on his campaign by being a seller at the impending NFL trade deadline (Nov. 5).
Superstar wide receiver Cooper Kupp has been floated in frequent trade rumors. If the Rams are punting on the season, could quarterback Matthew Stafford be available as well? Loose rumors involving Stafford have been floated around social media.
The 36-year-old Stafford is signed through the 2026 campaign with manageable base salaries and reasonable cap charges. Stafford could garner interest from around the league if made available. We've identified three potential landing spots via trade.
Minnesota Vikings
A borderline ridiculous social media rumor went around on Tuesday evening linking Stafford to the Vikings. It's easy to understand why those whispers could grow legs. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell spent two seasons (2020-21) coaching Stafford in L.A. as Sean McVay's offensive coordinator.
Sam Darnold is playing outstanding football for the 5-1 Vikings, but he's on an expiring contract. The Vikings aren't tied to him beyond this season. As productive as Darnold has been, wouldn't Stafford, a traditionally better quarterback that's already won a Super Bowl, increase Minnesota's chances of hoisting the Lombardi this season? Stafford would make a seamless transition into a familiar offense that has weapons like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and a returning T.J. Hockenson at its disposal.
Las Vegas Raiders
The 2-5 Las Vegas Raiders have been competitive this campaign. They've defeated the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns and recently lost by five points to Stafford's Rams. If they continue down this path, they could miss their opportunity to draft the quarterback prospect they desire in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Raiders are currently scheduled to own the No. 8 overall selection in April. With Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward clearly atop the QB big board, Tom Telesco and Antonio Pierce could fail to draft a top signal caller. Something similar happened in 2024, with six quarterbacks drafted before the Raiders officially came on the clock. If they start to get impatient, they possess more than $100 million in cap space next offseason, enough to make a bold acquisition.
New York Giants
It's becoming increasingly clear that the New York Giants will be severing ties with starting quarterback Daniel Jones this coming offseason. As long as Jones passes a physical, the organization will clear more than $30 million in financial flexibility against the 2025 cap by designating him as a post-June cut. Joe Schoen (or his successor) will be tasked with finding another franchise quarterback.
Like the Raiders, drafting a quarterback isn't a straightforward solution. The Giants are currently slotted into the No. 9 overall selection in a shallow QB class. They'll possess a reasonable $30 million in effective cap space before cutting Jones. With a clear WR1 already on the roster in Malik Nabers and a playoff-ready defense, the Giants could be tempted to accelerate their timeline.
