Tom Brady comes up in conflicting reports about Raiders recruiting Matthew Stafford
Matthew Stafford is drawing some level of interest from Tom Brady and the Las Vegas Raiders – depending on who you believe.
The Los Angeles Rams recently permitted Stafford to seek out a trade partner, and he seems to have legitimate interest from quarterback-needy teams. The Raiders and New York Giants are among the teams interested in trading for the quarterback, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. And the Raiders part is notable, because Brady is reportedly getting involved.
However, conflicting reports have emerged. Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports originally reported that Brady led something of a recruiting effort for Stafford, even hosting the Rams QB at his home in Montana last weekend, where they spent time skiing.
“Brady has been actively trying to convince Stafford to join the Raiders, and discussions are ongoing,” Schultz said.
However, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network later refuted Schultz, reporting that Brady and Stafford “ran into each other at a ski resort in Montana.” He described the meeting as “unplanned” and “not extensive or in-depth and did not include Brady ‘hosting’ or ‘recruiting’ Stafford, despite reports saying otherwise.”
So, the Raiders’ efforts to bring Stafford to Vegas may not have been as serious as originally reported.
Rapoport is generally considered one of the top NFL insiders, giving him a bit of an upper hand over Schultz in terms of public trust. But that didn’t stop Schultz from going right back at Rapoport’s rebuttal with another post saying: “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.”
Schultz continued that Brady and Stafford were “together” and that Brady “has been leading the charge to get [Stafford] to the Raiders,” should a trade actually happen. So, he and Rapoport (and by extension, their sources) obviously disagree on the nature of Brady and Stafford’s encounter in Montana.
Either way, the Raiders could use a better starting quarterback. They lacked high-end talent at the position in 2024, with Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell, and Desmond Ridder filling their depth chart. Stafford would definitely be an upgrade, even at age 37.
The Giants also are slim at the quarterback position, as well, with Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito, and Tim Boyle in the fold. Stafford would easily take over their quarterback room, too.
The Rams have been reportedly looking for a first-round pick for Stafford. A trade for Stafford could have a similar structure to the deal that sent Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets two seasons ago.
If he ends up going to the Raiders, Schultz would be vindicated on his original reporting. If he doesn’t, chalk one up for “Rap Sheet.”
Luke Graham is a digital sports content co-op for 98.5 the Sports Hub. He is currently a sophomore at Northeastern University studying communications and media studies. Follow him on X @LukeGraham05.
