LAS VEGAS — Normally, I’d give you 27 million reasons why the Raiders should not pursue obtaining Matthew Stafford. But since money isn’t the problem, you can make a case for Stafford taking his game to Las Vegas.
Yes, he’s 37 years old. Yes, he has had his share of injuries. Then again, show me a quarterback who has played significant time in the NFL that has not been hurt from time to time. He’s had a pretty good offensive line to protect him during his time with the Rams, which may not be the case if he comes to the Raiders.
But if you read Pete Carroll’s comments from Indianapolis where he is attending this week’s NFL Scouting Combine, he’s made it abundantly clear that he’s not waiting around for some five-year plan to develop. Hey, the guy’s going to be 74 in September. He doesn’t have time to wait to win.
So with that being the case, Carroll’s going to need a quarterback who can produce now, not four years from now. Could Chip Kelly work a miracle and turn Aidan O’Connell into an elite QB? I guess anything is possible but I’m not betting on it. If you bring Stafford into the Raiders’ QB room, he immediately becomes the best option and it’s not even close.
And even if the Raiders land Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward, are you convinced either are going to be good enough to pull a Jayden Daniels and be a star in the NFL right away?
Stafford has a winning pedigree. And if you’re wanting to change the culture in the locker room, having a quarterback that has shown he can have success goes a long way toward achieving that goal. Winning a Super Bowl gives you a lot of credibility.
As for him being 37 and perhaps too old, he just turned 37 a couple of weeks ago so he’s not the Ancient Mariner. He threw for 3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns and just eight interceptions in leading the Rams to the NFC West title this past season and a wild card round victory over Minnesota before the Eagles ended the Rams’ season en route to their winning the Super Bowl. A change of scene may get him fired up and taking on a new challenge would certainly motivate him.
And it’s not like the Raiders are devoid of weapons on offense. Stafford, who played collegiately at Georgia, could enjoy teaming up with another former Bulldog, that being tight end Brock Bowers. He also might enjoy playing pitch-and-catch with Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker.
And then there’s the Tom Brady factor.
How much could Stafford learn at the side of the GOAT about playing quarterback? How much fun would it be for him and Brady to go into a room, watch film together, bounce ideas off each other then put them into use on the practice field and eventually on game day?
Yes, Sean McVay has been a boost to Stafford’s career and they’ve accomplished great things together. When you win a Super Bowl, it cements your relationship and speaks to your legacy for both coach and player. But between having Brady to talk football with, Kelly to game plan and practice with and Carroll to energize him, I could see where Stafford would be intrigued at coming to play for the Raiders.
Financially, the money Stafford will make in Las Vegas will go a lot further than it does in Los Angeles because there’s no state income tax in Nevada. The NHL Golden Knights have used it as a selling point from the beginning of their existence to try and attract players. And If Stafford, his wife Kelly and their four children are looking for a nice area in which to live, they can choose between Seven Hills or Southern Highlands, both of which are short drives to the team’s Intermountain Health Performance Center in Henderson.
Finally, the Raiders should appeal to Stafford’s competitive instincts. How great would it look for him to have been the one to lead the Silver and Black back to the playoffs, re-energize the team’s passionate fan base and be able to do what he couldn’t in his 12 years with the Detroit Lions which was win in the postseason.
The Raiders are not going to win with the quarterbacks they currently have on their roster. No matter how hard they work, O’Connell, Gardner Minshew, Desmond Ridder and Carter Bradley are not the answer long-term.
Stafford, who has two years remaining on his current contract, is scheduled to make $27 million this coming season, $4 million of which is guaranteed. Supposedly, he’s looking to rework his deal to the tune of $50 million for 2025. Which is why the Rams told him to feel free to shop his services around the NFL.
Obviously, there would have to be an agreed-upon trade with the Rams and it could be somewhat pricey. But another season of the status quo at the QB position will not fly. So we'd have to see what L.A. would want back in return for the loss of its quarterback.
The Raiders have the money to meet his reported demands if they want to. Again, Brady plays a role in this as he will have a say along with general manager John Spytek, Carroll and owner Mark Davis if they want to open the wallet to accommodate Stafford. If they agree that a 37-year-old quarterback with a Super Bowl ring is worth the money, the Raiders could very well have their man.
It's certainly worth their while to explore the possibility. If not, the search will have to continue elsewhere and likely won't produce someone of Stafford's ability and legacy.