The Los Angeles Rams politely told Matthew Stafford to take a hike in search of greener pastures. While the team reportedly wants the veteran quarterback to return for at least one more season, their actions signal otherwise. If they truly yearn to retain him, why not meet his well-deserved demands for a raise and put the ongoing murky situation behind them?
Something isn't adding up here, and trade speculation will only increase until Stafford and the Rams agree on a new contract. Meanwhile, Los Angeles seems perfectly content playing the waiting game and letting the market for the 37-year-old set itself. Given the circumstances, it's beginning to feel like a legitimate possibility the two sides might be heading for splitsville.
But why is Los Angeles voluntarily allowing Stafford to explore other options? Do they have something else in the works? For whatever it's worth, Rams head coach Sean McVay has a clear connection to one of (if not the) best free-agent-to-be signal-callers available: Sam Darnold.
Sean McVay connection could bring the Rams to their ideal Matthew Stafford replacement
Darnold experienced a breakout campaign in 2024 with the Minnesota Vikings under head coach Kevin O'Connell, a disciple of the McVay coaching tree. However, his future with the franchise is up in the air. The front office moved up one spot to spend the No. 10 overall pick in last year's draft on former Michigan passer J.J. McCarthy.
Minnesota is deeply invested in McCarthy as its long-term signal-caller, meaning Darnold is expendable. The latter thrived in O'Connell's scheme, which is notably influenced by McVay's offensive philosophy, which makes the Rams a fascinating landing spot if Stafford leaves.
Could the McVay-O'Connell connection tie Darnold to the Rams as Stafford's successor? The sense of familiarity and friendly environment Los Angeles offers may be enough to merit taking a slight discount on the open market.
For the Rams, a reunion with Stafford ultimately remains the "top option." He and Darnold presumably carry similar price tags, though the former is a proven commodity and Super Bowl champion who's shown minimal signs of slowing down. The current Los Angeles gunslinger offers flexibility as a short-term commitment on the back nine of his wildly successful career.
Jack Settleman of Snapback Sports revealed that the Rams and Vikings were in "serious trade talks" surrounding Stafford ahead of the 2024 NFL trade deadline. With that in mind, might the two sides rekindle discussions and center a blockbuster swap around him and Darnold? Only time will tell, but it's a fun thought exercise nonetheless.