Here we go. The Raiders are not sitting around hoping their QB situation can be solved this offseason. They are actively working to solve it.
Last week the Rams gave QB Matt Stafford’s camp permission to speak with other teams to see what his market value would be, both in terms of trade compensation and a new contract.
The moment that news came out, the Raiders instantly became the favorite to land the former Super Bowl winning QB.
The decision by the Rams to let Stafford field offers from other teams was said to be made with the intention of finding out if Stafford is indeed deemed worthy a contract jump from the $49.7 million he’s making now — which is outside the top ten at his position — to something closer to top five money he is seeking.
Dangling Stafford has resulted in a few bites, according to Albert Breer of Monday Morning QB.
The teams you’d suspect would have their hat in the ring have, indeed, thrown their hats in the ring. The New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Las Vegas Raiders and others have shown interest.
The question then becomes what it would take for the Rams to make the decision to trade Stafford as opposed to matching his market value.
The Rams are said to be looking for a first round pick in return for Stafford. But it’s hard to imagine the Raiders parting with the sixth overall pick for a 37-year-old QB with maybe one long term deal left in him. Which leads to the inevitable question of ‘what about a first round pick…in 2026?’
Next year’s draft is expected to be a lot stronger at the QB position next season, so it stands to reason the Rams could be interested in going with a bridge QB like Aaron Rodgers or Kirk Cousins and then packaging picks next year to get their QB of the future.
And if the Raiders were to be making a trade to acquire Stafford that would mean they believe he would make them good enough that their 2026 first round pick would be a low first round. Add that they are expected to have well over $100 million in available cap this offseason, and the deal could make a lot of sense.