Matthew Stafford has cemented his legacy in Los Angeles. In his first year in SoCal, he brought the Rams their first Super Bowl title in two decades with the help of Sean McVay and Cooper Kupp. With a couple of playoff appearances to boot afterward, the Stafford era of the Rams has been largely successful. But even then, rumors are circling that Stafford will be on the move, with LA looking to start over and find a younger QB than Stafford, who just turned 37. This prompts the question; If Stafford is dealt, where will his new digs be?
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steeler organization has been the model of consistency in the NFL over the last decade without a title. Consistent above .500 finishes and first-round exits have been the norm for Mike Tomlin and company. Ever since Ben Roethlisberger retired, Pittsburgh has struggled to find a franchise QB. And while Stafford won’t be there long wherever he lands, he immediately offers a higher offensive ceiling for the team than Russell Wilson or Justin Fields.
Matthew Stafford, with his 3,762 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and a 65.8% completion rate from last season, brings a level of precision and clutch performance that neither Fields nor Wilson could consistently muster. He’s got more playoff wins in the past four years (five) than the Steelers have in the last 15, Add in someone like Stafford’s buddy Kupp or Deebo Samuel and this offense can suddenly make a big leap.
New York Giants
These next two destinations depend on Matthew Stafford’s desire to contend. This one also depends on what the Giants think of Shedeur Sanders. Cam Ward likely won’t be available at the third pick, and the Head Coach/GM pair of Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen have piping hot seats. If the Giants are not comfortable with Sanders, expect them to be right in the mix for the Rams signal caller. This will also allow them to target some of the other top available players like Travis Hunter.
Malik Nabers had over 1,000 yards and 100 receptions as a rookie with stopgap QB play. Add in Stafford and these numbers may jump even higher. Outside of Nabers, this team has enough talent on both sides of the ball to compete with a better quarterback situation. His 533 playoff yards and four touchdowns from last postseason prove he’s still got gas in the tank, and that could buy Schoen and Daboll time while elevating a roster that’s closer to contention than its record suggests.
Las Vegas Raiders
Similar to Stafford, new Raiders Head Coach Pete Carroll (73 years old) is here for a good time, not a long time. Carroll will not wait around for a new quarterback and last year’s situation was abysmal for Las Vegas. Gardner Minshew flopped, Aidan O’Connell and Desmond Ridder didn’t inspire confidence, and the Raiders limped to a 4-13 record in 2024. With $99.5 million in cap space, the Raiders have the money to add one of the top quarterbacks available this offseason while addressing other positional needs.
Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers would greatly benefit from the leadership and skill of Stafford under center. The Raiders need more talent outside of those two players but we have seen Stafford elevate rosters in the past to offensive success despite limited talent. In an extremely tough AFC West, the Raiders desperately need some juice, or they risk losing cornerstones like Maxx Crosby sooner rather than later.
A Potential Return to LA?
At the end of the day, it is yet to be seen if a Matthew Stafford trade is truly likely or not. The Rams were a play or two away from upending the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles in their own house on Divisional Sunday. Even with Kupp out the door, Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams are still there on a Sean McVay offense, paired with a young upstart defense that hit its’ stride late in the season with DROY Jared Verse. But, with Stafford’s age and potential health concerns, it makes sense to at least look into it.
For all three teams, Matthew Stafford’s appeal lies in his ability to step in and win now without the growing pains of a rookie. The Steelers get a shot at postseason glory, the Giants gain a lifeline for their regime, and the Raiders find a foundation to build on. The trick is the trade cost—likely a first-rounder—and Stafford’s contract demands, but if the Rams balk at paying him, these teams could pounce and reap the rewards of his twilight years.