Matthew Stafford Facing Tom Brady Treatment As Sean McVay Gives Rams QB Permission To Seek Trade

In the NFL, even legends aren’t immune to the business side of football. Think Tom Brady’s yearly contract dance in New England—a waltz of cap gymnastics and short-term promises. Now imagine Matthew Stafford stepping into those same shoes, his future swaying between loyalty and leverage. Like a page torn from The Godfather, it’s not personal—it’s strictly business. But in Hollywood’s backyard, will this storyline end with a ring or a trade?

The Rams have granted Stafford permission to explore trade options, per NFL insider Tom Pelissero. “My understanding has been that the Rams have been in conversations with his agent, that they’ve also given his agent permission to talk to other clubs just to figure out, ‘Hey, if he became available, if there were a trade, what were the numbers be elsewhere?’” Pelissero revealed on The Rich Eisen Show. This mirrors Brady’s annual renegotiations, where deals were torn up and rewritten like rough drafts. But let’s stick to Stafford.

At 37, Stafford has two years left on his contract, earning $27 million in 2025—well below market value for a QB of his caliber. The Rams want him back, but the numbers must align. Meanwhile, Stafford’s on-field numbers soared.

Matthew Stafford‘s 2024 stats—3,762 yards, 20 touchdowns—prove he’s still elite. Yet his cap hit balloons to $49.66 million next season. The Rams, rebuilding around young stars like Puka Nacua, face a dilemma: pay up or pivot. “You’re going to want to know, ‘Am I getting this guy for one year, for two years, for three years?’ and that’s why the Rams have been willing to let Stafford’s agent… go and just figure out what would other teams be willing to do?” Pelissero noted, comparing it to Tom Brady’s Patriots era. But unlike Brady, Stafford lacks a no-trade clause.

The clock ticks toward free agency, and dominoes like Russell Wilson and Kirk Cousins loom. Teams are circling. The Giants, armed with the No. 3 draft pick, crave stability. The Steelers, stuck in QB purgatory, need a playoff-caliber arm. The Vikings? A reunion with ex-Stafford coordinator Kevin O’Connell could spark magic. Pelissero hinted a trade might cost a second-round pick, but insiders like Daniel Jeremiah say GMs are “intrigued.” Is Stafford the missing piece for a contender?

Letting Stafford’s agent shop offers is a high-stakes poker move. It pressures both sides to compromise—or part ways. History isn’t kind: Cam Akers and Van Jefferson exited after similar permissions. However, Stafford isn’t just any player. He’s the architect of LA’s 2021 Super Bowl run. Trading him risks alienating fans and stalling a playoff-ready roster. But cap relief could fuel Sean McVay’s rebuild.

Stafford’s next chapter: Hollywood or heartland?

Let’s have a look at the possible suitors:

Nevertheless, losing Stafford would ripple through LA. Cooper Kupp’s productivity might dip (if somehow he stays). Les Snead’s GM legacy would hinge on nailing the next QB move. And McVay, once hailed as a genius QB whisperer, would face his toughest test yet.

Both sides want a deal. Stafford loves LA; the Rams need his arm. But as Pelissero stressed, “What would the numbers be elsewhere?” If they can’t agree, Stafford’s exit will shake the NFL. Imagine him in black and gold, slinging bombs to George Pickens—or dragging the Giants to relevancy. Either way, his legacy bends, not breaks.

In football, as in life, endings are messy. Stafford’s saga—part Brady, part Mad Men negotiation—reminds us that loyalty fades when spreadsheets talk. Yet hope lingers. As The Sun Also Rises muses, “Isn’t it pretty to think so?” A Hollywood ending isn’t dead yet. But in this league, cash rules everything—even for Super Bowl heroes.