Former Detroit Lions and now Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford would be in high demand if he becomes the focus of a trade during the offseason. Finding a veteran quarterback who has won a Super Bowl and continues to perform at the level Stafford has shown this past season is no easy task.
Considering this, it’s not shocking that some NFL insiders believe Stafford might depart the Rams for one final chance in the NFL with a different team.
The analyst’s initial contact would be with former Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Rams.
Ex-NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky shares some opinions on Stafford and his potential destinations in the offseason.
During NFL Live, Orlovsky mentioned that Stafford would be the “first” player he’d contact when looking to fill the quarterback position with the Las Vegas Raiders.
He also identified the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers as perfect destinations for Stafford.
“I believe the initial call I’d place would be to Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams to determine Stafford’s intentions,” Orlovsky stated on the Tuesday, January 28 episode of the program. “Will he be playing?” Is he planning to retire? “Do they wish to have him return?”
That’s when he brought the Giants and Steelers into the conversation alongside the Raiders, saying, “Truly, if I were the Giants, if I were the Steelers, if I were many teams, that would be my top call. “Attempt to grasp what the strategy is for Matthew Stafford.”
The Steelers already have Russell Wilson and Justin Fields on their roster, making that seem less probable. Nevertheless, the Giants and Raiders both require a dependable franchise quarterback, and Stafford could bring the veteran skill they need to their team.
“I believe the initial call I would place would be to Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams to understand Stafford’s intentions,” Orlovsky mentioned on the Tuesday, January 28 airing of the program. “Will he be playing?” Is he planning to retire? “Do they desire his return?”
That’s when he included the Giants and Steelers alongside the Raiders, remarking, “Truly, if I were the Giants, if I were the Steelers, if I were several teams, that would be my top priority call.” “Attempt to understand what the strategy is for Matthew Stafford.”
The Steelers, naturally, already have Russell Wilson and Justin Fields on their roster, making that seem improbable. Both the Giants and Raiders, on the other hand, require a reliable franchise quarterback, and Stafford could bring the level of veteran skill they need to their lineup.
In the 2024-25 season, the ex-Detroit Lions quarterback threw for 3,762 yards, achieving 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions. With his leadership, the Rams secured the NFC West division championship and triumphed in the Wild Card game against the Minnesota Vikings. However, they were defeated by the Philadelphia Eagles in the playoff divisional round.
Additional Retirement Discussion
Stafford was selected by the Detroit Lions in 2009 as the first overall choice from Georgia. He spent 12 years in Detroit before becoming the centerpiece of a major trade deal with the Los Angeles Rams, which transferred him to L.A. and brought Jared Goff to Detroit. Stafford claimed victory in Super Bowl LVI over the Bengals in his first season with the Rams.
Stafford will be 37 in February, and although that is typically a retirement age for quarterbacks in the NFL, he has shown no signs of wanting to leave the field. After the Rams’ defeat against the Eagles, Stafford informed reporters that he would “take some time to consider” the prospect of retirement. He also indicated to reporters, “I believe I was playing fairly well,” suggesting that perhaps he’s not entirely prepared to resign.
When a reporter inquired if he still has football in him, he answered, “Definitely feels that way.”
Stafford finalized a modified deal with the Rams last summer, resulting in a cap hit of $49.66 million.