The New York Giants have made it very obvious Matthew Stafford is their top priority, but they’re not alone in the race. The Las Vegas Raiders, led by recruiter-in-chief Tom Brady, are also in the mix. And now, we have an idea of what a contract might look like if Stafford does end up leaving Los Angeles.
According to multiple reports, both the Giants and Raiders have discussed a two-year deal worth up to $100 million guaranteed for the Super Bowl-winning quarterback. That’s a hefty price tag for a 37-year-old, but given the Giants’ urgency to find something that resembles stability under center, it’s not surprising.
The real question now is whether the Los Angeles Rams will actually move on from him or not. Stafford is set to meet with L.A.’s brass to discuss his future, and there’s still a chance this entire situation is all for not. At the end of the day, this could all just be a ploy to gauge the market for a new contract for Stafford. But what would a Stafford contract look like?
What a Giants contract for Matthew Stafford would look like
If the Giants do pull off a deal for Stafford, expect his next contract to look something like this, as reported by USA Today's Art Stapleton and The Athletic's Dianna Russini:
- Two years, $100 million
- Fully guaranteed or close to it ($90-100 million)
The Giants have flexibility with their salary cap and could create even more room by restructuring contracts or cutting veterans who won't move the team forward. The idea here would be to keep his 2025 cap hit manageable while giving him a massive signing bonus upfront.
Would the Giants commit this kind of money to Stafford and still draft a quarterback? It’s not out of the question. A trade-up for Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders could still be in play if they're looking to pair a young rookie with a proven veteran like Stafford for a year or two.
The Raiders have also reportedly discussed a similar deal, but their situation is a little different. They have significantly more cap space than the Giants and could front-load the contract, making it more appealing for Stafford in the short term.
With Tom Brady working behind the scenes, Vegas has been aggressive in its pursuit, but it remains to be seen whether Stafford actually wants to play there. The Giants, despite their dysfunction, still offer the appeal of a big market and an NFC path that’s far less brutal than the AFC’s. But who knows if he'd like to up and move across the country, either.
At the end of the day, this is all about leverage—for Stafford, for the Rams, and for the teams vying for his services. The contract numbers are out there. Now we wait to see who’s willing to pay the price.