We are coming up on 17 years since the day quarterback Matthew Stafford was drafted by the Detroit Lions number one overall our of Georgia. Since that day, he has played 222 games with a 108-113-1 record split between the Lions and Rams. He has made the Pro Bowl twice and currently sits tenth all time in passing yards one spot ahead of Eli Manning and a 3,000+ yard season away from passing Dan Marino, Matt Ryan, and Aaron Rodgers. Stafford clearly still has the desire and ability to play. The league undoubtedly has multiple franchises looking to add someone of his caliber to their depth chart. The questions are who wants him? Where does he want to go? And what is the price tag?
Four Teams Want Stafford
There can always be a player in the market waiting under the wings. But based on conversations I’ve had and looking at the realistic options when it comes to both spendability and situation, the four teams contending for Stafford’s services are:
The Giants are as close to desperation mode when it comes to the quarterback position as anyone in the league. The Joe Schoen / Brian Daboll regime is in a pickle. They have gone 9-26 since their playoff win in Minnesota in the 2022 postseason. They botched the Daniel Jones contract situation multiple times. They passed on a first-round quarterback in 2024 for Malik Nabers. Now, they are staring at an anemic quarterback class when considering both rookies and free agents with just Tommy DeVito in their corner. If these guys are going to save their job, an aggressive move at the most important position in the sport needs to be made. It is the clearest path to turning it around and playing competitive football.
The Raiders’ hire of Head Coach Pete Carroll was an interesting one for several reasons. He will be 74-years old in September, older than ever other one of the 31 Head Coaches in the league. The defensive minded CEO hired a multi-year opponent, Chip Kelly, to run the offense fresh off his National Championship at Ohio State. The 61-year-old has not been in the NFL in nearly a decade. While all coaches and all teams want to “win now”, the Raiders direction in a league full of young coaches and candidates to coach tells me they want turn this around right away. In a division with Patrick Mahomes + Andy Reid, Justin Herbert + Jim Harbaugh, and Bo Nix + Sean Payton, a dollar store-quarterback + new coach approach is not fair. Stafford puts them in the discussion with those names and opens the door to a day two pick at the position that could pay off down the road a la Russell Wilson to the Carroll-led Seahawks in 2012.
The Steelers are masters of staying competitive and relevant. The last time they finished under .500, the iTunes music store was just being launched, and Ben Roethlisberger was a senior at Miami of Ohio. No team in the NFL has a longer streak. As impressive as that is, their inability to get over the hump can be directly pointed at their inability to develop a sustainable and good enough plan at quarterback. We know they can maintain good play in the trenches. We know they are a defensive pillar in the NFL. We do not know if they can scout and develop young quarterbacks. Since Big Ben was drafted in 2005, this is the list quarterbacks they’ve drafted: Dennis Dixon, Landry Jones, Joshua Dobbs, Mason Rudolph, and first rounder Kenny Pickett. None of them earned a multi-year second contract. By now this organization needs to know what they’re good at, and what they’re not. They gave Russell Willsona re-birth last season and Stafford would be a level up using that same strategy of pursuing a known commodity rather than trying to develop one.
The Titans have the strongest connection to Stafford, a southern boy at heart, of any team on this list. Head Coach Brian Callahan was the Stafford’s quarterback coach in 2016 and 2017. Those were two very productive seasons for him and the only back-to-back winning seasons he had in Detroit. Callahan was then brought in by Cincinnati to be an Offensive Coordinator where he worked with another number one overall pick, Joe Burrow, eventually making it the Super Bowl. With Will Levis, drafted by the previous regime, appearing to be in over his head for two straight years and no true-blue goose at quarterback in a draft the Titans are picking one overall, this seems like the ideal and most likely match considering how much previous relationships matter in the NFL.
Where Does Stafford Want To Go?
While there are reports the relationship between Stafford and the Rams may have suffered a (hairline) fracture, he likely has a say where he ends up. If the Rams can find realistic, equal trade offers from their counterparts, odds are they will let Stafford open one of the four doors. The 37-year old is coming down to his final stretch and he wants to play for a winner. He wants a good offensive system that can play to his strengths. He wants playmakers he can distribute to. This could very well be his last shot to join a small list of quarterbacks with multiple Super Bowl wins. 18 have won two-plus, only six have won three-plus.
The Giants are probably the least-attractive landing spot for Stafford. While they do have a budding superstar receiver in Malik Nabers, the rest of the room is below average across the board. He will be heavily leaning on unproven year-two, day-three picks at running back and tight end and the rest of the receiver room has the feel of replacement-level guys rather than proven commodities. The offensive line is better than what it was two years ago, but left tackle Andrew Thomas has durability problems and the Giants have been top five in pressure percentage allowed every year under Brian Daboll. The one perk? They are the only team on this list NOT in the more competitive AFC.
The Raiders looks new and shiny. At surface level, playing for Pete Carroll (who epitomizes the players’ coach description), and Chip Kelly (a toy for passers), Stafford can look at this as a fun ending point for his career. Brock Bowers, a first team All-Pro hybrid tight end/wide receiver, may be the closest thing Stafford has to a Nacua/Kupp receiver from these teams, will make life a lot easier. He has a solid and growing offensive line with young players that should ascend and gel together. The hole is in the backfield. No team in the NFL rushed for less yards or touchdowns in 2024. Fortunately for them, this draft class is absolutely loaded with backfield talent.
The Steelers have never been a team loaded with playmakers but the draw to this system is, the system. They constantly invest round one through four resources in to the offense. 16 of their last 21 draft picks in the first four rounds have been spent on offensive line and skill positions. Stafford will be depended on less here as well. Everybody knows this is a franchise built on defense as long as Mike Tomlin is calling the shots. It is as stable as any organization in the game. They’ve ranked top ten in points allowed seven of the last nine seasons. The one roadblock? The AFC North may be one of the most physical divisions in football and Stafford has tended to get nicked up. That won’t change in the coming years. Neither of them.
The Titans have the connection between the Head Coach and quarterback, as noted above. They have the geographic location Stafford wants to be in. The AFC South is the weakest division in this discussion. The question is a big one, however. Who are Stafford’s weapons in this system? Free agency and the draft can change things, yes. But with the roster as is, Stafford going from Kupp and Nacua with Kyren Williams in the backfield to the trio of of Calvin Ridley, Treylon Burks (maybe Nick Westbrook-Ikhine), and Tony Pollard is a tough sell. And while the offensive line has improved since 2023, the right side is still scary-bad. Does Stafford trust all of those will be fixed in a year where acquiring him will cost at least one day two pick?
Four Trade Proposals:
Giants-Rams
The Giants may have to use the Aaron Rodgers trade to the Jets two years ago as the gauge. I do not see any players the Rams would want from this roster unless they want to take a chance on Deonte Banks. Even then, trading Banks on the low would be a poor move for the Giants. Because New York is not the number one spot on Stafford’s list and Joe Schoen is shopping hungry (actually, starving), the price would likely be steep.
NYG Trades:
2025 2nd rounder (#34 overall)
2026 conditional 2nd (if he starts 16+ games) that turns into a 4th if not
LAR trades:
QB Matthew Stafford
2026 5th rounder
Raiders-Rams
The Raiders play in a division that Stafford may want to avoid, and the new regime likely increases the price based on demand alone. But this is a team that could easily create a trade package that brings Stafford’s friend and teammate, Cooper Kupp, with him.
LV trades:
2025 1st rounder (#6 overall)
LAR trades:
QB Matthew Stafford
WR Cooper Kupp
2025 3rd rounder (#90 overall)
Steelers-Rams
The Steelers have a piece or two the Rams could be interested in. With Cooper Kupp likely to be traded as well, there may be a phone call about George Pickens. Alaric Jackson is set to hit the market, and Broderick Jones could be attractive to Los Angeles.
PIT trades:
WR George Pickens
2025 3rd rounder (#85 overall)
LAR trades:
Matthew Stafford
Titans-Rams
The Titans could get a slight discount (if anything) because they are the likely top destination for Stafford if he as a say. But with so many suitors, that may be a moot point. Tennessee does not have a third rounder, making a day two pick even harder to sell. They do have an extra fourth and fifth respectively, so we could get creative.
TEN trades:
2025 2nd rounder (#35 overall)
2025 4th rounder (#102 overall)
2025 5th rounder (#142 overall)
2026 4th rounder
LAR trades:
Matthew Stafford
2025 3rd rounder (#90 overall)