Once again, the Las Vegas Raiders found themselves being used as leverage—this time by Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford in his bid for a bigger payday. Unfortunately for the Raiders, his strategy worked flawlessly.
With a glaring need at quarterback, the Raiders entertained the idea of acquiring a proven veteran—a Super Bowl champion once regarded as one of the most talented passers in the game. While the notion was always a long shot, the team genuinely believed they had a chance.
Heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, the Raiders saw Stafford as an ideal target. The draft class wasn’t particularly strong at the quarterback position, and with plenty of cap space available, they could use their draft picks to address other key needs. However, as things stand now, that scenario won’t materialize—unless the team pivots to options like Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold or veteran Aaron Rodgers, formerly of the Jets and Packers.
Stafford reportedly sought a $50 million annual salary, a price the Raiders were more than willing to meet, given their projected $100 million in cap space. Initially, the Rams refused to meet that demand. But when reports surfaced that both the Raiders and the New York Giants were willing to pay, Los Angeles had little choice but to match the offer.
In the end, though, the Raiders never truly had a shot.
“It never really got close,” Rams head coach Sean McVay admitted on The Dan Patrick Show. “At the start of this process, I had been pretty open about the communication and clarity that was deserved… The end goal was always to bring him back. I realized how much I wanted that when I noticed how much better I had been sleeping the last few nights.”
Whether McVay was being entirely truthful or simply managing public perception, the outcome remains the same—the Raiders were left empty-handed.
Still, their search for a franchise quarterback isn’t over. Their opportunity will come—it just might take a little longer than expected.
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