The Los Angeles Rams would demand a first-round pick in return for a trade for veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford, according to a r eport by Jordan Schultz of Bleacher-Report , a steep price for the Pittsburgh Steelers to pay for trading for the 37-year-old signal caller.
Stafford and the Rams are expected to re-visit his contract this offseason after a renegotiation in 2024 left him without much in the way of guaranteed salary going forward. That contract hangup has yet to be resolved, and that continues to be the cause of uncertainty surrounding his future with the team, prompting trade rumors from around the NFL.
Schultz reported that several teams have called the Rams about the availability of Stafford.
According to extensive reporting by Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic , there is a hesitation by the Rams to pay Stafford an amount of money in 2025 that may hamper the team's future efforts to lock up its young core.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) reacts during the NFL divisional playoff football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
It's unclear how long Stafford wants to keep playing, and how long the Rams will want to continue to pay him top dollar on the quarterback market. He's scheduled to make $58 million over the next two seasons, but that will be a part of this offseason's negotiations.
That could lead to a trade, and the Steelers have been striking out at nearly every plausible — and some implausible — quarterback options on the table as they enter the 2025 season, but a first-round pick might be too steep for the Steelers' blood.
Stafford would just be a bridge for the Steelers, who also have a young core on offense, and will likely be seeking a new potential franchise quarterback in the draft in 2026.
Trading a first-round pick for Stafford doesn't seem like it would make much sense for the Steelers , though they do not have very many attractive options at quarterback right now.
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