The Los Angeles Rams could find themselves at a crossroads in a few weeks. They have three games left before the NFL trade deadline, which is 4 p.m. ET on Nov. 5.
At best, the Rams will be 4-4 at the deadline if they can beat the Raiders, Vikings and Seahawks. There’s also a chance they’re 1-7 or 2-6. The Rams made the playoffs last season after starting 3-6, so losing two of their next three won’t mean they’re eliminated from playoff contention.
However, they also shouldn’t be big buyers at the deadline if they’re sitting at 2-6. Might they be big sellers instead? Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano of ESPN mentioned a hypothetical scenario where the Rams don’t turn things around and consider trading Matthew Stafford.
It seems outrageous on the surface for Los Angeles to move on from Stafford now with no succession plan in place, but it’s not the craziest idea if they find themselves with very little chance of making the playoffs. Stafford reworked his contract this year to give him more guaranteed money up front, while simultaneously making it easier for the Rams to move on financially if they want to in 2025.
Here’s what Fowler wrote when asked about the possibility of Los Angeles trading Stafford at the deadline next month.
Definitely. The Rams have looked at Stafford’s future as a year-to-year proposition. His reworked contract last offseason reflects that, pushing his 2024 pay into the $40 million range but lessening his guarantees in 2025, essentially allowing both sides to decide whether they want to remain married at that point. This is a situation to watch closely, because neither player nor team seems to know how or when it will end. Stafford is 36 and has dealt with injuries recently. Does he want to play after this season?
The Rams and their quarterback have several questions to answer, which are easier to put off if the team is winning. And maybe L.A. can regain its winning ways once Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua and others return. It’s also worth noting the Jimmy Garoppolo signing got the attention of some around the league, because Garoppolo could be an insurance option down the road. While interested teams are unclear, the Raiders have a glaring need at the position.
Fowler isn’t saying the Rams will trade Stafford if they keep losing or that they have any plans to move on from him now. He’s not even reporting any inside information about Los Angeles’ plans at quarterback this season.
But Les Snead is always more willing to cut or trade someone a year early rather than a year late (see: Gurley, Todd and Goff, Jared). It still won’t be easy for the Rams to trade Stafford before the deadline or in the offseason because of his $49.67 million cap hit in 2025, but they took on $22.1 million in dead money when they traded Goff so it’s not impossible.
In a scenario where the Rams lose their next three games and fall to 1-7, they could see it as an opportunity to organically tank for a higher draft pick by starting either Jimmy Garoppolo or Stetson Bennett for the rest of the year. Plus, they’d recoup assets by trading Stafford for draft picks.
Obviously, they won’t even consider it if they get back to .500 before the deadline and are sitting at 4-4 through eight games. But if they keep losing, it’s something to watch, as Fowler said.