Matthew Stafford to the Giants trade rumors swirl as potential deal raises big questions
The New York Giants doesn't have any quarterbacks on their 90-man roster at this point. And based on what the team had over the last few years at the most important position in football, it's completely understandable why the front office and the coaching staff would be willing to trade a high first-round pick to […]
The New York Giants doesn't have any quarterbacks on their 90-man roster at this point. And based on what the team had over the last few years at the most important position in football, it's completely understandable why the front office and the coaching staff would be willing to trade a high first-round pick to acquire Matthew Stafford from the Los Angeles Rams.
But if the move ultimately happens, it wouldn't come without risk. Let's discuss the good and the bad of the intriguing idea.
The positives
High ceiling
Stafford has never been a consistent quarterback. Since his Detroit Lions days, he is a volatile player. But that volatility brings stretches of absurdly good performances. In 2021, one of those came at the perfect time for the Rams in the playoffs, and Stafford was instrumental for the team to win a championship. The Giants haven't had highs so high since Eli Manning retired.
Ability to evaluate everything else
When the quarterback play is prohibitively bad as it's been for the Giants, the entire roster is negatively impacted. The offensive line looks weak, the wide receivers don't produce, the running backs have to face loaded boxes.
With a high-level quarterback like Stafford, it would be much easier to make a fair assessment of the team and its pieces. Even if Stafford is not a long-term option, the Giants could take some type of advantage in the long run.
Fan engagement
Look at how few reasons Giants fans have to actually watch the games. Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito. It's hard to be excited about any of it. On the other hand, Matthew Stafford is one of the coolest quarterbacks in football. The insane arm talent, the no-look throws, his ability to target short windows. All those factors are just fun. And making fans happy is good for any franchise, especially one in New York.
The negatives
Not ready to compete
When the Lions started their rebuild, the obvious decision was to trade Matthew Stafford away to accumulate draft capital. Right now, the Giants don't seem to be in a situation to realistically compete for a Super Bowl. So what's the point of acquiring an old quarterback?
We've seen Stafford struggling under bad circumstances in Detroit, so trading draft capital and giving the player a big extension is a tough combination to handle.
Staff on the hot seat
If the Giants acquire Matthew Stafford and give him a big deal, it would be a decision made by current general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll. But they have little job security going into 2025. It's not absurd to think that another failed season might cost them their jobs, and then a new leadership structure would have to inherit an expensive contract they initially weren't responsible for.
Long-term questions
Beyond the leadership question marks, there are legitimate drawbacks to acquire Stafford because of the nature of the game. Matthew Stafford is 37, so it's fair to say he is already past his prime. There were already some retirement rumblings earlier this offseason, and even though the quarterback made clear his intentions to keep playing, the situation might quickly change. The Giants might have two, three good seasons out of Stafford. But trading a first-rounder for a short period is a questionable move, especially for a non-contending team.
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