We’ve seen some interesting developments prior to now couple of months in regards to the way forward for Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford in Los Angeles. Today’s newest update comes from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network who tells us that the team has given Stafford’s agent permission to talk with other teams about his value. Rapoport makes it clear that this will not be a trade request, just an external appraisal.
Following the tip of the Rams’ 2024 campaign, Stafford began to contemplate his future within the league, potentially weighing the opportunity of retirement before ultimately making the choice to play in 2025, after some pressure for clarity from the team. Because the team was waiting for that clarity, though, the Rams made it known that they were considering trading the veteran quarterback. This rumor led to interest from several teams who began to contact Los Angeles with interest in Stafford.
With today’s update, we see that the Rams have been hearing these offers and are hoping to make use of them to help of their contract negotiations. Our previous most up-to-date update hinted that the 37-year-old was in search of a raise on his next deal. This recent tactic from the Rams could possibly be seen as an try to let the remainder of the league do their work for them. This is able to be just like what the Ravens attempted last 12 months, after they placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Lamar Jackson, and most teams expected them to match any offer sheet after letting other teams determine Jackson’s value.
This can be a less official version of this. That is closer to the MLB’s arbitration process, wherein the team and player can’t come to an agreement on a player’s value, in order that they use a third-party arbiter to make the determination for them. Because the Rams and Stafford struggle to seek out level ground in contract discussions, the hope is that outside teams will participate and provides their two cents on what Stafford’s next contract should seem like.
More likely, teams, in the event that they don’t really imagine they’ve a probability to land Stafford in a trade, could attempt to inflate the price of a Stafford deal with a purpose to handicap the Rams as much as possible. This possibility is underlined by a report from Rapoport’s colleague Mike Garafolo, who tells us that these other teams don’t imagine this implies the Rams and Stafford are headed for a split and that trade compensation will remain a hurdle to them actually acquiring the passer.
One other hurdle to acquiring Stafford via trade is the $45.3MM in dead money trading Stafford’s contract would cost the Rams, in line with Jason Fitzgerald of OvertheCap.com. Still, Fitzgerald believes that the Rams could be willing to deal Stafford for a return they deem worthy, but when that adequate trade offer doesn’t come, they’d work with the veteran on a modified contract.
