Matthew Stafford may not be quite the same quarterback who won Super Bowl 56 with the Los Angeles Rams, but he remains one of the more prolific signal callers in the NFL.
Stafford landed 22nd in PFSN’s 2024 QB Rankings though he remains a quality veteran at the game’s most important position. He threw for 3,762 yards and a 20-8 touchdown-to-interception ratio on a 65.8% completion rate, while also leading the Rams to the NFC Divisional Round after a huge upset over the Minnesota Vikings.
Despite his success in Los Angeles, the team has permitted him to speak with other teams ahead of the new league year that begins in March. With two years remaining on his current contract, Stafford could be a fit for several teams, whether they fashion themselves as contenders or need a cultural reset.
Will Blackmon Ties Raiders, Pete Carroll To Matthew Stafford
The Las Vegas Raiders, after a lengthy coaching search involving Tom Brady, finally found the head coach they hope will lead them to immediate success, hiring Seattle Seahawks legend Pete Carroll.
Though known mostly for his defensive acumen, Carroll’s first order of business should be finding the franchise quarterback Raiders fans have been desperate for. Having the No. 6 pick in the current 2025 NFL Draft order could complicate matters on that front, which is exactly why former NFL defensive back Will Blackmon likes them as a fit for Stafford’s services.
Speaking on FS1’s “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” Blackmon, a 10-year veteran who won Super Bowl 46 with the New York Giants, said that the Raiders are perfectly positioned to bring in Stafford this offseason.
“In terms of the Raiders, when that job became available, I outright thought it makes too much sense with Pete Carroll. You truly need someone who is going to come in there and completely reset the culture, and there really isn’t anyone [available] who does that better than him [Stafford],” Blackmon explained.
When asked if he believed that Brady’s decision to go skiing with Stafford mattered at all in the team’s pursuit of the QB, Blackmon said, “I think that does matter. That definitely matters. A lot of the OG quarterbacks, they truly respect Matt Stafford; not just his mind but what he can do with the football.”
.@WillBlackmon says the Raiders are the right fit for Matthew Stafford:
"It makes too much sense with Pete Carroll. You need someone to reset the culture." pic.twitter.com/e0bBu37tVV
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) February 27, 2025
The Raiders likely won’t head into next season with Gardner Minshew II and Aidan O’Connell as the primary quarterbacks on the roster. While Stafford’s QB+ score of 71.9 was far from impressive, it was in line with O’Connell (20th, 73.8 grade) and far outpaced Minshew (35th, 60.6).
Heading into his age-37 season, Stafford won’t be the long-term answer for his next team, whether it’s the rebuilding Raiders or an actual playoff-caliber team like the Pittsburgh Steelers.
However, given the respect he dictates around the league, he could be a perfect fit for Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly’s offense, especially given the amount of young skill position players the Raiders have on their depth chart.
Of course, to facilitate such a move, Stafford would have to be interested in leaving the Rams — who have made the playoffs in each of the past two seasons — for Las Vegas, which has made it to the postseason just once since 2016.