Grade the trade of an NFL expert scenario sending Rams elite player to Raiders

The Raiders perspective

With nine draft picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Las Vegas Raiders have a lot of ammunition to use in any trade scenario. The bigger question from this scenario is more fundamental. Do the Raiders view 2024 as a season in which the team has a window of opportunity to sneak into the NFL Playoffs? Right now, the Raiders have not quite reached the top seven AFC teams tier. The Raiders must reach that tier to compete in the NFL Playoffs.

At 1-1, the Raiders are ninth.

Why wouldn't the Raiders do this?

The biggest challenge for this trade scenario is motivation. The Raiders are competing in the AFC Western Division, and both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers appear to be red hot right now. Would the Raiders have any interest in improving their team if it meant finishing no better than third place in a four team division

Matthew Stafford is a superb quarterback who has the ability to lead almost any team and any offense to victory, even though trailing all game. But he is north of 35 years of age, meaning that his 'shelf life' in NFL productivity is inching ever closer to an expiration date. Do the Raiders initiate trade talks for a quarterback who gives the team two seasons of winning an NFL Playoffs berth?

Why would the Raiders do this?

Let's be frank. Winning in the NFL is just about everything. And I do not believe that anyone disagrees that Matthew Stafford throwing to WR Davante Adams would not be nearly unstoppable in the NFL. And then there is the presence of TE Brock Bowers, the tight end who was clearly the Rams top target in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Raiders offense skyrockets to a Top-10 offense with Stafford under center. That's based on the instant effectiveness of a passing game that would blow up opposing secondariers. That leads to a more productive running game. That leads to a more effective defense.

The Rams added Matthew Stafford in 2021, and won Super Bowl LVI that year. I'm not suggesting that the Las Vegas Raiders experience will be the same after trading for Matthew Stafford. But I know it won't happen unless the Raiders try.

Raiders should offer

The final sticking point for the Raiders is the cost to acquire Stafford. The LA Rams have Stafford at the end of a multi-year contract. That does afford the Raiders an 'out' if the two sides are not a fit. But it gives the team an option to maintain Stafford through 2026 if everything works out. As a Rams fan, I'd love to start the bidding with multiple Round 1 picks. But even I acknowledge that price to be too steep.

Bu a draft pick package offer that includes a 2025 NFL Draft pick in Round 2, plus a 2026 NFL Draft pick in Round 4 should be enough to get the deal into serious negotiations.

The Rams have backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo on the roster. So getting a player is not a must. The Rams are no worse the wear, as finding a Stafford successor is already atop their off-season 'To Do,' list. This simply cements that necessity.