With a less-than-stellar free agent quarterback market and a questionable selection of draft-eligible players in the 2025 NFL Draft at the same position, teams like the Las Vegas Raiders are looking toward veterans like the Los Angeles Rams quarterback to acquire via trade.
Now, reports are emerging that Stafford and Raiders minority owner Tom Brady spoke at a ski resort in Montana.
That said, two notable NFL insiders, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network and Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, have disputed the way they met.
Dueling Tom Brady-Matthew Stafford Reports
Looking at the Twitter timestamps, Schultz hit the report first.
His report read, “Sources: #Raiders minority owner Tom Brady recently hosted #Rams QB Matthew Stafford at his home in Montana, where they spent time together and went skiing. Brady has been actively trying to convince Stafford to join the Raiders, and discussions are ongoing.”
Sources: #Raiders minority owner Tom Brady recently hosted #Rams QB Matthew Stafford at his home in Montana, where they spent time together and went skiing. Brady has been actively trying to convince Stafford to join the Raiders, and discussions are ongoing.
Several teams are… pic.twitter.com/Jo9xxw2M6e
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) February 26, 2025
“Several teams are interested in Stafford if the Rams decide to move him, with Las Vegas believed to be the most aggressive suitor,” he finished.
Then, about 30 minutes later, Rapoport had his own report.
#Raiders minority owner Tom Brady and #Rams QB Matthew Stafford ran into each other at a ski resort in Montana, sources say.
The meeting, unplanned, was not extensive or in-depth and did not include Brady “hosting” or “recruiting” Stafford, despite reports saying otherwise. pic.twitter.com/eUucyxzxsW
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 26, 2025
“#Raiders minority owner Tom Brady and #Rams QB Matthew Stafford ran into each other at a ski resort in Montana, sources say.”
He finished by saying, “The meeting, unplanned, was not extensive or in-depth and did not include Brady “hosting” or “recruiting” Stafford, despite reports saying otherwise.”
The difference between these reports is that Schultz claims they deliberately met, whereas Rapoport says they “ran into each other.”
While the two didn’t engage in back-and-forth tweeting, Schultz quoted his own post, appearing to sub-tweet about the Rapoport report.
If you really think Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford just happened to run into each other at a ski resort in Montana — of all places — at the exact same time, I’ve got a bridge to sell you.
They were together over the weekend —it happened. Multiple teams are interested in… https://t.co/5UiU4lVoal
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) February 26, 2025
“If you really think Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford just happened to run into each other at a ski resort in Montana — of all places — at the exact same time, I’ve got a bridge to sell you.”
“They were together over the weekend —it happened. Multiple teams are interested in Stafford, and Brady has been leading the charge to get him to the Raiders if the Rams decide to trade him.”
Stafford to the Raiders?
As Schultz notes, it’s highly unlikely Brady and Stafford somehow managed to stumble into one another at a ski resort in Montana.
That seems highly improbable.
The Raiders have a clear need at quarterback after starting Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell, and Desmond Ridder last season.
They have the No. 6 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, and it would be fair to speculate if they’d score either Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders at that spot.
In PFSN’s latest mock draft by Owain Jones, Jones had the Raiders landing Sanders.
The Raiders have nearly $100 million in cap space and could easily pay the Super Bowl-winning quarterback and absorb his nearly $50 million cap hit for 2025.
There could be a scenario where they get Sanders and start Stafford as a bridge quarterback.
We’ll see what comes of this Montana ski resort meeting.