The Idea of the Rams Trading Matthew Stafford is a Bad One

Recently, there’s been a surge of discussion surrounding the possibility of the Los Angeles Rams parting ways with quarterback Matthew Stafford. The idea has gained even more traction after the Rams granted Stafford and his camp permission to engage with other teams. On the surface, this could appear to be a move geared toward the franchise’s long-term future, but to me, it simply doesn’t add up. Why would the Rams give up any chance at contending for a Super Bowl in 2025 by trading away their veteran quarterback?

While he did start the season off slow, Stafford proved that he is still not only one of the best quarterbacks in the NFC but also undoubtedly one of the top ten players at his position in the NFL in 2024. He finished the season with 20 touchdowns and just 8 interceptions. While he does have an injury history, Stafford has managed to stay upright for the most part over the last two years and continues to play at an elite level.

Not to mention, if the Rams do move on from Stafford, what exactly is their plan at quarterback? I'm not opposed to them drafting a Jaxon Dart at No. 26, and I do think he could succeed under Sean McVay in the future. But that’s the key: the future. I don’t think Dart, or any rookie quarterback for that matter, would be ready to be a full-time starter this upcoming season. So, why not keep the veteran Stafford around to remain competitive and mentor a young quarterback?

There have been rumblings that the Rams could trade Stafford and then sign someone like Aaron Rodgers, but come on—what’s the point? I don’t care what the numbers say; the eye test showed me that Rodgers wasn’t nearly as good as his stats might suggest. He couldn’t move in the pocket, and he clearly didn’t want to take any hits. Stafford, in my opinion, is lightyears ahead of Rodgers at this point.

The Rams played the Super Bowl champion Eagles better than anyone else did this past playoff season. In the closing minutes of that game, when they were in the red zone, I genuinely thought Stafford was going to lead his team to a victory. This past year, the Rams proved they could very much be considered Super Bowl contenders, and having Stafford is a key reason for that. With a veteran quarterback who can still perform at a high level, moving on from Stafford now would be a huge gamble for a team that’s already on the cusp of contention.

Lastly, am I the only one who remembers how close Sean McVay was to retiring after the disastrous 2022 season, where Los Angeles finished with a 5-12 record? I was quite critical of McVay for even thinking about leaving at that point in time, especially after only one dismal season. However, with that he did clearly state what he values, and a rebuild is not something he is interested in. Keeping Stafford gives McVay the best opportunity to maintain his competitiveness, which seems to be the thing he wants most.

As a Seahawks fan, I would be delighted to see one of the league's top quarterbacks leave my division, but as an NFL fan, I think this decision is dumb. With so many good young players on rookie contracts, the Rams are simply too good to start over at quarterback. Why not simply offer Stafford a 2025 pay increase or some kind of extension that could be tradeable the following year, rather than blowing it all up? For a team that still has the chance to win a championship, it makes the most sense to have him on board for 2025.