How badly did the New York Giants want to trade for Matthew Stafford?
About $100 million worth of badly.
Why did the unhappy Los Angeles Rams quarterback on Friday opt to stay in Southern California by agreeing on a restructured contract rather than coming to the Big Apple?
There is something "badly'' about that, too.
The Giants clearly pursued the 37-year-old Stafford aggressively over the last week - so aggressively that multiple reports suggest they were willing to throw up to $100 million into a new contract for him as part of a trade.
New York found itself in the sweepstakes for the veteran passer, despite concerns over the team's 3-14 record making it a lesser destination.
And indeed - even with cap space, with the allure of receiver Malik Nabers, and with the urgency of general manager Joe Schoen - it seems Stafford's reaction in the end was one in which he viewed New York as a place where he wasn't going to be able to win big.
Stafford threw for 3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 2024, indicating he's still got tread on his championship tires. He was within one possession of taking down the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in the playoffs last year in leading the upstart Rams to surprising success.
He would have given New York instant credibility as a playoff contender, making them viable against teams with star quarterbacks. ... but still not good enough, it seems, in Stafford's eyes.
Instead, the Giants will have to pivot.
That plan now, almost certainly, includes a rookie quarterback drafted with the top-three pick in their possession. Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Miami's Cam Ward are expected to be top-10 picks, but if New York prefers, it could trade up to No. 1 with the Tennessee Titans.
The Giants will also be expected to bring in a starting-caliber veteran quarterback in free agency, such as Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, Sam Darnold, or Aaron Rodgers. None of those options can claim to be as potent as Stafford last season.
The Giants will try to use Plan B to win.
And the Rams? They are sticking with their Plan A.
