A quartet of teams was recently mentioned as suitors to watch for on the Matthew Stafford trade front. The Giants and Raiders in particular have shown strong interest, and a bidding war could ensue as a result. 
The Giants met with Stafford’s representatives at the Combine on Tuesday night, Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reports. That comes as no surprise given the interest the team has shown dating back to at least the 2024 trade deadline. General manager Joe Schoen has made it clear adding multiple quarterbacks (including, quite possibly, acquiring a veteran and then selecting a rookie early in the draft) is a priority this offseason.
Dealing the No. 3 pick in April’s draft is not on the table, but the Giants could look to put together a package built around other compensation. Confirming the Giants-Stafford meeting, a report from Dianna Russini, Tashan Reed, Jourdan Rodrigue and Vic Tafur of The Athletic notes Los Angeles would likely ask for a second-round selection and more if a Day 1 pick becomes unattainable (subscription required). The Giants are on track to own seven other 2025 picks, including No. 34.
Stafford is known to be seeking a new Rams pact averaging $50MM per year, but the team is not prepared to meet that asking price. Head coach Sean McVay has made it clear the team’s preference would be for the Super Bowl winner to play a fifth season in Los Angeles. While his camp has permission to seek out a trade partner, Stafford has not asked to be dealt to a new team.
The Raiders have of course already been in contact with Stafford himself speaking with minority owner Tom Brady. The details on the encounter have been disputed, but concerns about tampering can be put to rest. A league spokesperson informed Outkick’s Armando Salguero the NFL is satisfied tampering did not occur when Brady and Stafford met. Especially since the Rams have allowed conversations to take place regarding a trade deal as well as a contract from a (hypothetical) acquiring team, similar discussions can be expected over the coming days.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer predicts this situation will be resolved one way or another relatively soon. The Rans will of course need to know if their 37-year-old passer will remain in place for another year or if a successor will need to be acquired this offseason. Suitors like the Giants and Raiders (along with the previously-mentioned Browns and Steelers) will also build their offseason plans on whether or not a Stafford swap can be worked out. As the Combine continues, traction on a potential deal could continue to be gained with respect to New York and/or Las Vegas in particular.