Raiders, Giants Best QB Options in NFL Free Agency, Draft After Stafford's Rams Return

Matthew Stafford is staying put this offseason.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the veteran quarterback and the Los Angeles Rams agreed to a restructured deal on Friday, ceasing talks of Stafford potentially being traded.

Now the Rams get to keep their star quarterback, but two teams that were in the mix for him will have to pivot. The Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants both hoped to make a move for Stafford this offseason.

With Stafford off the market, here's a look at some options for the Raiders and Giants.

Raiders Top Quarterback Options

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While the Raiders were targeting an expensive quarterback in Stafford, they are reportedly "unlikely" to "make a large financial commitment to another veteran quarterback," per The Athletic.

The Athletic also reported that Las Vegas isn't interested in finding its next quarterback through the draft, so the Raiders will now be looking for an experienced, but affordable signal caller.

Some options that fit that could fit that description:

• Sam Darnold
• Russell Wilson
• Daniel Jones

Darnold had a transformative season with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns while leading the team to a 14-3 record. It was by far the best season of his career after spending the last few years as a backup.

Unfortunately for Darnold, a rough outing in the Vikings' season finale against the Detroit Lions followed by struggles in the wild-card round against the Los Angeles Rams hurt his value a bit. That works in favor of the Raiders as they can likely get him at a more affordable price.

Wilson had the best years of his career under Pete Carroll, and now the two could reunite in Las Vegas. Wilson isn't the MVP candidate he was with the Seahawks, but he got a Pro Bowl nod in 2024 after throwing for 2,482 yards and 16 touchdowns in 11 games.

The Athletic's Michael Silver reported that Las Vegas is "considering" Darnold and Wilson after missing out on Stafford.

Jones had a forgetful 2024 after being cut from the New York Giants after 10 games, but he spent the rest of the year learning from a great coach in Kevin O'Connell in Minnesota and could be ready for a starting job once again.

At his best, Jones is capable of leading a team to the playoffs. The Raiders could get him at a reasonable rate as they enter a new era under Carroll.

Giants Top Quarterback Options

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The Giants are armed with the No. 3 pick in the NFL draft, which will likely give them the choice of either Miami's Cam Ward or Colorado's Shedeur Sanders. They could also pick up a quarterback in the draft while adding a veteran in free agency.

Here are a few options:

• Shedeur Sanders
• Cam Ward
• Aaron Rodgers

After missing out on Stafford, the most likely route for the Giants seems to be finding their quarterback through the draft. Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department projects New York to take Sanders with the No. 3 pick.

One of the most exciting prospects in this year's draft class, Sanders threw for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns in his final season with the Buffaloes. Given the hype that came with playing for his father with the Buffs, Sanders should also be well-equipped to deal with the bright lights that come with playing in New York.

If Sanders goes first overall to the Tennessee Titans, that will likely leave the Giants with the option to take Ward, which is by no means a downgrade. Ward, a Heisman Finalist, threw for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns at Miami in 2024 and is widely considered the top quarterback in this year's draft for a reason.

The Giants could very well take the veteran quarterback route while still picking up a quarterback in the draft. If that's the case, Rodgers will be at the top of their list.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported after the Stafford deal that New York is "investigating all veteran quarterback options…..including Aaron Rodgers." The Athletic's Dianna Russini added that the Giants "are shifting their interest to" Rodgers, noting that the team has "been discussing it all week" at the NFL combine.

Rodgers' best days are certainly behind him, but he ended up putting together a decent season with the New York Jets despite the team's struggles. He finished the year with 3,897 passing yards and 28 touchdowns.

At 41 years old, he wouldn't be a long-term option by any means, but he would be affordable and could be a decent mentor to a potential rookie quarterback.