RUMOR: Rams Trying to Trade Matthew Stafford Over $59 Million?

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for 2,087 yards, 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions in nine games last season. And there is buzz that the team has recently tried to trade him.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford may go down as one of the biggest "what-if" stories in NFL history. And according to one report, he nearly went down as a traded ex-Ram.

According to former NFL general manager Michael Lombardi, the Rams have given thought to moving on from their starting quarterback.

While guesting on The Pat McAfee Show Friday, Lombardi said the Rams made an effort to trade Stafford before they had to write him a big check.

"When his option bonus was getting ready to kick in, they attempted with a lot of effort to trade him," Lombardi said. "Any team could've had him. The problem was you had to absorb the $59 million."

So instead, the Rams will plow forward ... and will be writing the big checks for a player who, at No. 11 on the league's all-time passing yards (52,082) and No. 12 in passing touchdowns (333) - and counting - is undeniably one of the league's most talented signal-callers. 

"Before his option bonus was kicking in the Rams attempted with a lot of effort to move Matthew Stafford..

Any team could've had him but you had to absorb the $59M" ~ @mlombardiNFL #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/uDQ5NTve5Q

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) July 7, 2023

Now, on a completely different subject, it may be his lack of career accolades that could keep Stafford out of the Hall of Fame.

Spending the first 12 years of his career with the Detroit Lions, the 35-year-old made the playoffs just three times with one Pro Bowl nod and a 74-90-1 regular-season record. 

In just his first season in a Rams uniform, the former No. 1 pick not only led the team to the postseason, but also the second Super Bowl victory in franchise history. 

And despite missing a eight games last season due to injury, Stafford was recently ranked the No. 9 quarterback in the NFL by USA Today, just behind and Baltimore Ravens' Lamar Jackson but above Dallas Cowboys Dak Prescott. 

"Perhaps forgotten too quickly, it was just two seasons ago that Matthew Stafford guided the Los Angeles Rams to the Super Bowl with an elite level of play," USA Today writes. "The Rams dealt with some serious offensive line issues and Stafford himself was dealing with injury. There is little reason to doubt one of the most prolific passers in the league won’t jump back into the top ten QBs with a clean bill of health."

With a full offseason to recover, Los Angeles and Stafford are hopeful for a bounce-back campaign in 2023. ... even after one party tried to divorce the other one during the 2023 offseason.

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Follow Riley Sheppard on Twitter @RileyDSheppard.

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