Matthew Stafford could be making a Los Angeles exit, despite reports he wants to stay with the Rams.
The quarterback, who won a Super Bowl with the franchise in 2022, is reportedly not ready to bring his 15-year career in the NFL to an end, despite previous retirement murmurings.
However, it appears that the 37-year-old may not play out the remainder of his career at SoFi Stadium.
The Rams have given Stafford permission to speak to other teams around the league in order to determine his value and potentially lay the foundation for a trade, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Media.
It marks just the latest twist in the saga, with Stafford’s future shrouded in uncertainty.
Following the Rams’ Divisional Round defeat to eventual Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, in January, it was reported that Stafford did intend to return to play next season.
The Los Angeles Rams have reportedly give Matthew Stafford permission to talk to other teams
There had been much speculation whether that season would be with the Rams, who handed him a six-year, $160million contract extension just three years ago.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, people close to the quarterback ‘think that he ultimately wants to remain in Los Angeles and play for Sean McVay.’
Breer added, ‘We’ll see if the Rams can work out the contract part of this, which will determine what’s next.’
However, his future was cast into doubt yet again when it emerged that Los Angeles was said to be considering moving on from the veteran.
That decision, however, reportedly had little to do with Stafford’s ability on the field and more to do with his wife.
According to Fox Sports host Colin Cowherd, Rams officials have grown ‘tired’ of Stafford’s outspoken wife speaking out in the media.
Stafford’s wife Kelly publicly hit out at the Rams earlier this month for putting his teammate and good friend Cooper Kupp on the trading block.
‘My husband wants to win. He’s not trying to put a team in a bad situation,’ Kelly said on her ‘The Morning After’ podcast . ‘I will say the trading away of Cooper, I’m confused… because we were one play away from going to the NFC Championship, and I think if we go, win win.’
Reports had indicated Stafford wants to continue his partnership with head coach Sean McVay
Colin Cowherd believes LA officials have grown tired of Stafford’s outspoken wife Kelly
The quarterback’s Rams exit this offseason could set up a potential move for Aaron Rodgers
On his ‘The Herd’ show, Cowherd said: ‘The Rams like Matt Stafford but they’re tiring of the constant quarterback talk, his wife saying things publicly. They’re not real happy with Cooper Kupp going public with something they tried to keep quiet [looking to trade him].
‘They’re kind of over Cooper Kupp and with that a little bit Matt Stafford. They like him, but they don’t want to restructure his deal and give him a big contract.’
Cowherd then named the Giants as a potential landing spot for the 37-year-old, who just finished his fourth season in LA – claiming New York chiefs are plotting a move for him in the offseason.
‘Meanwhile the Giants do not like the quarterback [draft] class, and Brian Daboll, the head coach, and Joe Schoen, the GM, they’ve gotta win or they’ll be fired by Thanksgiving ,’ the sportscaster said. ‘So they are going to make a move, I believe, on Matt Stafford.’
The Rams will hope to take the Giants’ No. 3 draft pick in exchange for Stafford, Cowherd revealed, before searching for a ‘one to two-year rental quarterback’ themselves.
And he believes Rodgers, whose New York Jets departure was finally confirmed on Thursday, would be the perfect option given Michael LaFleur, the younger brother of Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, is offensive coordinator in LA.
