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

The Rams perspective

I'm not convinced that offering the LA Rams four Round 1 draft picks will sway HC Sean McVay to rubber stamp any Stafford trade scenario. But here is the reality: The team traded DB Jalen Ramsey after the 2022 NFL season. DT Aaron Donald retired. WR Cooper Kupp is injured (agaiin), as is his padawan, WR Puka Nacua. QB Matthew Stafford is getting up in years, and he simply doesn't have another rebuild, restock, refurbish, or any other synonym for 'we'll get them next season,' in his time line.

Why wouldn't the Rams do this?

The LA Rams are still 'in contention' for postseason play, and any trade of Matthew Stafford is essentially a huge surrender. It's waiving the white flag for 2024. I'm certain that the team is not prepared to accept that fate. The problem is, by the time the team is buried in losses to a point that the possibility of trading Stafford is doable, he may be too banged up to interest any team.

It's a catch 22.

The Rams want to win. They've loaded up the offense to compete in the postseason. Despite the frequency of injuries, the team expects to get almost all injured players back by mid-season. If the team trades away Stafford, who will lead the team after players return?

Why would the Rams do this?

In 2022, the LA Rams made the harsh set of decisions to cannibalize their pass rusher room, lighten the running back room, and set the stage for sweeping roster changes in 2023. The same set of conditions are dragging the team down once more. Too many injuries are forcing the team to burn through available salary cap space. The limits to restoring injured players from IR have already forced the team into the difficult position of considering new assignments to IR as season ending. And the team must compete behind another new offensive line iteration for the next six games or so.

How can Matthew Stafford be expected to remain healthy in these circumstances? The fact that the team is playing without the top two wide receivers and top tight end do not help the matter.

It's the 2022 NFL version of the Kobayashi Maru scenario all over again. That is, it's a no-win scenario, as either path can lead to a future withough a healthy Stafford under center. If the Rams consider the trade, Stafford is traded, but the Rams get future draft picks and instant salary cap relief. If the Rams stick to their guns and keep Stafford, he could fall to injury and be lost for the season.

Grade the Trade

Okay, so let's sum this up. There are no slam dunks in this scenario. In fact, as is the case for many fictitious trade scenarios, the basic question of 'Why would they do this?' is left to the readers imagination. But if the two teams do negotiate in good faith, what might a trade look like?

I don't think the Rams are prepared to throw in the towel on the 2024 NFL season just yet. And I don't believe that the Las Vegas Raiders view their window for competing in the NFL Playoffs as limited to the 2024 NFL season. But if the two teams are motivated to negotiate, this could happen.

Grade the Trade: C-. Unlikely but possible

And as always, thanks for readi