Colin Cowherd, on Tuesday’s edition of “The Herd,” reported that following a meeting between Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford at a Montana ski resort last month, the Los Angeles Rams conveyed a significant asking price to the Las Vegas Raiders for their Super Bowl-winning quarterback.
“I was told after the show yesterday,” Cowherd relayed, “Listen, he’s still under contract. You have to give us a first-rounder and something.’ The Raiders kicked the tires and would not go there, which I think is a mistake.”
Rams Wanted 1st Rounder, Las Vegas Raiders Wouldn’t Budge For Matthew Stafford
Despite Stafford’s age of 37 and the Rams’ acknowledged urgency to capitalize on their remaining Super Bowl window, Cowherd believes the potential acquisition of Stafford by the Raiders would have posed a formidable threat to the AFC West and justified the steep asking price for a quarterback of his caliber.
“I would have given up a first-rounder for Matt Stafford, absolutely, with Chip Kelly, Brock Bowers and Pete Carroll,” Cowherd asserted, indicating his willingness to part with either a 2025 or 2026 first-round pick. “Oh, I would give up a first for a star quarterback who’s in his late 30s. Again, this is not 1984.”
With the Stafford trade off the table, the Raiders are now reportedly considering other quarterback options, including 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers, as well as Russell Wilson and Sam Darnold, who are set to become free agents on March 12th.
Cowherd also mentioned that the Raiders were prepared to guarantee $100 million for Stafford, a figure reportedly also offered by the New York Giants and likely matched by the Rams in their successful effort to retain him. Stafford was previously slated to earn $27 million under his existing contract, a figure significantly below the average annual salaries of quarterbacks such as Tua Tagovailoa, Trevor Lawrence, and Dak Prescott.