If the Giants truly want to pursue a trade for Matthew Stafford, the Rams just made it easier for interested teams to find out what it might take to land the Super Bowl-winning quarterback.
The Rams have granted Stafford and his agent permission to speak with other NFL teams about his value, NFL Network reported.
The 37-year-old Stafford has not formally requested a trade, but the two-time Pro Bowler wants to secure a new contract and this move will enable the Rams and Stafford an opportunity “to gain a better understanding of his worth,” the report stated.
Stafford is set to hold a salary-cap figure of $49.6 million for 2025, but the Rams can save $27 million if they trade him after June 1 and $23 million if they cut him after that date.
The Giants retained both GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll following a disastrous 3-14 season that saw them release former starting signal-caller Daniel Jones in November.
They currently have no quarterbacks under contract for next season — with both Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito headed for free agency — and they have been linked in recent days to Stafford.
The Giants own the No. 3 overall pick in the April draft, but they might not be able to secure either of the top two rated QBs — Cam Ward of Miami or Shedeur Sanders of Colorado — without making a trade to move up in the first round.
Moving on from Stafford also could free up the Rams to sign 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers, who was informed by the Jets earlier this month that he would not be returning.
The four-time league MVP threw for 3,897 yards with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 17 starts in his first season back from 2023 Achilles surgery, but the Jets finished just 5-12 and missed the playoffs for the 14th consecutive year.
Stafford played the first 12 seasons of his 16-year NFL career with the Lions before he was traded to Los Angeles for Jared Goff and two first-round picks in March 2021.
Stafford started 16 games for the Rams in 2024, throwing 3,762 yards with 20 touchdowns, eight interceptions and a passer rating of 93.7.
The 2025 NFL Scouting Combine is slated to take place beginning Thursday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
