The Tennessee Titans are highly unlikely to pull off a trade with the L.A. Rams for quarterback Matthew Stafford. However, the franchise must be keeping a close eye on where he ends up.
Trade talks always heat up during the NFL Combine, and after the Rams gave Stafford permission to talk to other teams, there have been several rumors about which teams might be pursuing his services.
Right now, the teams that seem the most interested in Stafford are the New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, and the Rams themselves.
Matthew Stafford’s exploration of his market value the last few weeks has indeed attracted significant interest from teams, notably the Raiders and the Giants, per sources.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) February 26, 2025
Teams are anticipating the Rams will now be driving up the asking price if they decide to move him. pic.twitter.com/8PS7GqXaPM
Nothing happens in a vacuum in the NFL, and every big move has a ripple effect. So what are the pros and cons of each destination from the Titans' perspective?
New York Giants
Stafford going to the Giants would be the worst outcome for the Titans, by far. That franchise currently has zero quarterbacks under contract and they are desperate for help at the position. If they can't acquire a proven veteran, the team will be forced to draft one, but they are in a tricky spot at No. 3 overall. With the Cleveland Browns poised to take a quarterback with the second pick, the Titans would have a lot of leverage over a desperate Giants organization with their back to the wall. Also, trading down while staying in range of drafting Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter is the golden path for this franchise.
Las Vegas Raiders
If the Titans don't fall in love with any of the top prospects in the draft, the Raiders seem to be the ideal trade partner, assuming that Tom Brady and company miss out on landing Stafford. With an extra third-round pick this year, the Raiders have several selections in the top 100 over the next two years and general manager Mike Borgonzi has been clear about his recipe for success and how many top 100 picks the Titans need over the next few drafts.
Los Angeles Rams
In a perfect world, the Rams use these trade rumors as a negotiating tactic, and the Raiders and Giants get strung along for as long as possible before Stafford decides to stay where he is. That would put both teams in a spot where they are desperate to land a quarterback in this draft class and the Titans would be able to use that leverage to get the best deal possible for No. 1 overall.