If Matthew Stafford is traded, it sounds like the team he would most likely be traded to is the Raiders. But the odds of Stafford returning to the Rams seemed to get a little boost on Thursday.
“As this situation has progressed, sources have indicated Matthew Stafford is really mulling whether to uproot his personal and professional life,” NFL Network’s Mike Garoppolo reported on Thursday evening on X. “But there’s still work to do with the Rams to get back to a good spot and agree on a return. Stay tuned. We’re getting there.”
Garoppolo’s colleague, Ian Rapoport, said there is expected to be a resolution to Stafford’s contract (and future) by the end of the NFL Combine and called it “possible” that Stafford will return to the Rams.
Rapoport said it currently isn’t “probable” Stafford will be back with the Rams in 2025, but he believes the next 24 hours will be pivotal for Stafford and all the teams involved in potentially trading for him.
On Thursday, a report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vinny Bonsignore hinted that at least one trade hurdle between the Raiders and Stafford has already been achieved.
Per Bonsignore, the Raiders and Stafford “have found common ground on what a potential new contract could look like” and that would suggest the Rams and Raiders only need to agree on trade compensation to get a deal done.
But for now, it sounds like the Rams aren’t sure they want to see Stafford get away and Stafford might not be sure he wants to leave.
One way or another, answers are coming soon.
And if it doesn’t work out with Stafford, would the Raiders take a look at… Zach Wilson??
