Titans dream QB trade option for Matthew Stafford is looking more and more available by the day
The Titans could land their top QB option thanks to the Rams
The Tennessee Titans would love nothing more than to somehow land Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford and roll into 2025 with him as their guy.
It’s hard to blame them, considering how Stafford remains a top-5 pure pocket passer in the league. His age and mobility are all that keeps him out of the true top tier these days, and still he is regularly underrated. He’s been elevating a relatively mediocre roster since their Super Bowl run.
I’d imagine Stafford is atop the list of many QB-needy teams this offseason, but they're all having to hold their breath in hopes that he'll actually become available. His potential exit from LA seemed more plausible on paper than in reality at first, though the likelihood this massive QB domino falls in March seems to grow by the day.
NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah posted on social media this week about a potential trade of Stafford to the QB-needy Giants. Jeremiah is notoriously not one to entertain pie-in-the-sky hypotheticals this time of year. If he's talking about it, it's usually a story with some legs.
Gregg Rosenthal of "NFL Daily" doubled down on this being a serious situation, going as far as to say Stafford appears "way more likely than not gone". Gregg is very plugged-in in LA.
The Rams moved money from the end of Stafford's contract into 2024, fully guaranteed the 2024 money, and removed all future guarantees at the beginning of last season. That laid the groundwork for a transition this spring, but it was before Stafford led the team to within a couple plays of the NFC Championship.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer has reported a couple of times about the rest of the league’s watchful eye on the Rams QB decision, and continues to cite a 1st round pick as the asking price. That’s steep for the 37 year old, but the market is thin and the Rams want serious compensation if they're going to seriously move on from their QB. Stafford is still very good!
How much and how long Stafford demands at the negotiation table may be what makes LA’s minds up for them. If he wants more than a one-year commitment, things could get interesting. The Titans wouldn’t send the 1st overall pick for Stafford, but the 35th overall pick is basically a first, right?! Perhaps that’s a wishful argument, but the Rams have likely set the asking price high for a reason. It remains to be seen how much of that is bluster.
The bottom line: Tennessee would be thrilled to land Stafford somehow. He’d be their undisputed starter for at least 2025, and would open them up to go all-in on Abdul Carter, Travis Hunter, or a trade-down at the top of the draft. I believe he's their top option if the price is right.
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