Matthew Stafford insurance plan hits all-time low in latest trade rumor

As long as the Los Angeles Rams remain at an impasse in showing any signs of progress with Matthew Stafford’s back injury, fans will have to brace for the less-than-fully vetted trade scenarios bound to surface. The latest rumor follows that trend. Reports of interest in Cleveland Browns rookie QB Dillon Gabriel have been confirmed by NFL insiders Mike Florio and Albert Breer, though that interest was expressed during the draft.

That’s a far cry from teams reaching out now, in the middle of preseason. What’s more concerning is how the original reports of draft-day interest in Gabriel are being spun into a narrative that the Rams are trying to trade for the Browns’ rookie after Stafford showed up to training camp with back issues. Last Word On Sports' David Latham believes there's reason for LA to make a move.

Gabriel stands 5-foot-11, weighs 205 pounds, and has yet to appear in a preseason game. He’s part of a Browns dysfunctional QB room that already includes Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Shedeur Sanders, Tyler Huntley, and Deshaun Watson. There’s no chance Cleveland keeps even four on the active roster, so any team interested in Gabriel just needs to play the waiting game.

Dillon Gabriel wouldn't be an upgrade over Stetson Bennett

While fans may not give Rams' backup Stetson Bennett much respect, the 5-foot-11, 190-pound passer has put in the work to earn a roster spot. And despite the buzz around Cleveland's third-round pick, he’s had some bad days, not a great sign for a Browns team that’s struggled to sustain quality quarterbacks in recent years.

Rookie moments are bound to happen, which is why the team should keep what it has going with Bennett and Jimmy Garoppolo.

The offense isn’t about to gamble on a player who’s yet to produce in the NFL, and general manager Les Snead won’t give up value for a player struggling in his first season.

Matthew Stafford’s absence from practice has fueled plenty of fan interest in realistic options and scenarios. But options that make sense for the team are scarce right now and will remain so until 32 NFL teams trim more than a third of their rosters ahead of the new season.

If the Rams do end up in the market for a quarterback, there will be some solid options available. For now, though, the team remains confident Stafford will play this season. As long as that hope exists, there’s no reason to trade for a struggling quarterback who could be relegated to the practice squad in a matter of days. As always, thanks for reading.

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