The Las Vegas Raiders‘ 2025 offseason is filled with some major what-ifs. What if the team had been able to convince Ben Johnson to take the offensive coordinator job? What if they drafted offensive tackle Armand Membou instead of running back Ashton Jeanty in the first round? What if the team hired an offensive coordinator like Klint Kubiak instead of Chip Kelly?
However, arguably the biggest what-if involved Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Raiders were heavily linked to trading for the quarterback in the offseason, and minority owner Tom Brady was reportedly involved.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter gave some more insight as to why a trade didn’t go down.
“It’s amazing to me, but the quandary was … the Giants were calling on them, the Steelers were calling on them, the Raiders were calling on them, others were calling on them. There were any number of teams,” Schefter said of Stafford on ESPN’s “UnSportsmanLike” podcast. “And it’s so funny to me, because at that time, those teams, like any team trying to trade for a player, you want the best value possible. You want to give up the least amount of compensation. And so those teams would put together packages, but generally speaking, with most of these teams, I remember the conversation being that the Rams wanted at least a second-round draft pick and then some.
“And teams were stuck on a third-round pick. Oh my God. And I get that you always want to squabble over picks and players, and you can’t always give in, but if it’s a quarterback, I always think you really can’t go wrong. And if it’s a proven future Hall of Fame quarterback, like Matthew Stafford, like what are we doing? OK, so you want the two, give them the two.”
First-Round Pick Would’ve Gotten Trade Done
In hindsight, many teams likely wish they traded for Stafford. He’s one of the favorites to win the MVP this season and is having an incredible year. The Raiders offense has been a nightmare, and Geno Smith might be one-and-done.
According to Schefter, a first-round pick would’ve gotten Stafford to Las Vegas.
“You remember the Rams announced all of a sudden that they were bringing back Matthew Stafford the Friday of the combine. And that was after a couple of weeks of intense conversations with a lot of different teams. What I’m saying to you generally is that the majority of these teams were tiptoeing around it and trying to get a value deal on Matthew Stafford. That’s what I’m saying,” Schefter said. “By the way, I could say to you now, if I were one of those teams, they’re arguing over seconds and thirds and other picks. Who the hell cares? Here’s my first-round pick for Matthew Stafford, okay? Do I think that would have gotten the deal done for Matthew Stafford at one point in time? Absolutely.
“Nobody stepped up to do that. So now you look at it, how would Stafford have fit in with any one of those teams that talked to the Rams about a potential trip? How would that have worked out for any one of those teams’ first-round picks?”
Raiders Made Right Decision
While it’s easy to think that adding Stafford would’ve changed the Raiders’ season, the team still would’ve had a lot of the same problems. Stafford is in a different league than Smith, but he’s also 37.
He would’ve had to play behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, which is not what you want with an older quarterback. Now, the Raiders might have approached free agency and the draft differently had they landed Stafford, but it’s clear that the roster just doesn’t have much talent. Giving up a first-round pick would’ve only made it harder to find talent. In the end, the Raiders made the right decision not to trade for Stafford.
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