If the Minnesota Vikings move on from Sam Darnold, there will be in the market for an experienced replacement.
J.J. McCarthy is nearing a full recovery from meniscus surgery last August but will need an experienced buffer if the Vikings judge him not ready to start. Minnesota tested Daniel Jones for the role by signing for the duration of the 2024 season.
However, another veteran could be tapped to take over in Minnesota — Matthew Stafford.
Stafford’s wife, Kelly, went on her podcast to express her anger with the Los Angeles Rams, who are attempting to deal away Cooper Kupp in a move that she feels damages Matt’s chances at competing.
She put a call out to clubs that her husband, who is facing a contractual impasse with the Rams, wants to win, even if it meant leaving Los Angeles.
“I wasn’t planning on discussing this, but hell, why not? My husband wants to win, he’s not trying to put a team in a bad situation, if you’re getting my drift you’re catching my drift,” Kelly said. “Trading away Cooper, I’m confused. We were one play away from going to the NFC final and I think if we go we win.
“I have to be the dog in the situation. I want the respect that he deserves. I love the metropolis of LA, with that being stated, I love an adventure,” she added. “Right now, if the Rams decided that they wanted to trade him, or Matthew decided he didn’t want to play for the Rams, I’m good. I would move my family. Yeah, that might be challenging. First month, challenging. After that, turns out, I like my kids to understand how to be resilient.”
Kelly Stafford: “My husband wants to win. … Trading away a Cooper Kupp? I’m confused since we were one play away from heading to the NFC Championship. I have to be the dog in this situation—I want the respect for him that he deserves. I love the city of L.A. With that being said…
Rams’ Matthew Stafford’s Contract Standing Could Force Trade
Stafford’s wife indicating he is not trying to put teams in a poor situation implies that he may be set to take a wage reduction.
Stafford and Kupp are the top two cap hits on the Rams’ roster in 2025. Stafford is due $49.7 million, while Kupp has a $29.8 million cap charge with $22.3 million guaranteed.
Kupp’s guarantees are likely the basis of Los Angeles sending out trade calls for him as the Rams attempt to move off his contract.
That’s led to resentment from Kelly, who says Matthew would potentially accept a pay reduction to keep Kupp around.
But if the Rams are actually done with Kupp, Matthew may be ready and eager to move to a team that he views closer to contention in 2025.
Los Angeles upset the Vikings 27-9 in the first round of the NFC playoffs, but Minnesota has the resources — the fifth-most effective cap space ($55.7 million) for the 2025 season — to convert the club into a powerhouse.
What a Matthew Stafford Would Look Like for Vikings
According to Over The Cap, Stafford would carry cap hits of $27 million for 2025 and $31 million for 2026 to his new team in a prospective trade. The Rams would eat $44 million-plus in dead cap.
That’s a high bill to front for Los Angeles, which will be seeking for the means of finding their new quarterback in a deal involving Stafford. The conversation would start at a first-round choice.
That’s certainly where the buck would stop for the Vikings, who have built around the idea of long-term success and sheltering a rookie quarterback with quality.
But the McCarthy for Stafford swap has some steam in NFL circles.
If the Vikings truly feel Stafford is the final piece to their core group, Kevin O’Connell would be reunited with the quarterback perhaps most prepared to run his scheme after winning a Super Bowl with Stafford in Los Angeles.
Considering Stafford would carry the 18th-highest cap hit at his position for the next two seasons ($29 million a season), Minnesota would have significantly more roster-building potential with Stafford than they would re-signing Darnold to a market-rate deal in the ballpark of $40 million a season.
It would truly be a two-year, all-in approach that general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah preached against (“you never want to go full Rams“) when he initially arrived in Minnesota.
However, without a contract extension in Adofo-Mensah’s grasp, he could feel the need to hasten the contention window.
Trading for Stafford would have to be co-signed by O’Connell, who would certainly fight back against any deal that would send off McCarthy.
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