The New York Giants are going through it right now.
After a brutal 28-3 loss to the Eagles, the Giants decided it was time to give Daniel Jones a break (some might say benched) in the fourth quarter, throwing backup QB Drew Lock in to create a spark.
Head coach Brian Daboll insists that Jones is still the starter, but it’s clear the team is looking for something—anything—to turn this season around.
And if you’ve seen the Giants’ offensive stats lately, you know why.
Right now, the Giants are last in the NFC East with a 2-5 record and averaging a measly 14 points a game, which is the worst in their division by a mile.
Many fans and football insiders are suggesting a major trade that could potentially bring a big-name QB to New York—none other than the Los Angeles Rams’ Super Bowl-winning star, Matthew Stafford.
But as exciting as it sounds, bringing Stafford to the Giants isn’t as simple as calling up the Rams and trading for him.
Let’s break down what this trade would mean for the Giants, Stafford, and Daniel Jones.
To put it bluntly, the Giants’ offense is a mess right now.
They’re sitting with just 31 points across their four home games this season, and they haven’t managed more than one touchdown in any of them.
Their latest loss to the Eagles saw Jones throw for just 99 yards and get sacked seven times.
Daboll, who’s been vocal about the need for explosive plays, is watching the offense fumble, literally and figuratively.
Their longest play against the Bengals was 15 yards, and against the Eagles, it was only 14.
So, the offense just isn’t moving the needle.
Now, with Jones struggling, fans are understandably calling for a change.
When Jones was drafted sixth overall in 2019, there were high hopes for the young quarterback.
The Giants wanted him to be the next Eli Manning, but fast forward to now, and that dream is quickly fading.
And here we are, discussing a potential trade just a few months later.
Enter Matthew Stafford, who isn’t just any quarterback.
The Rams’ superstar is a 36-year-old veteran who has thrown over 57,000 yards in his career and even has a Super Bowl ring to his name.
Let’s face it: he’s got that playmaker energy and experience that could bring a major boost to the Giants’ offense.
Imagine Stafford throwing deep balls to Malik Nabers, their rookie wide receiver.
It’s the kind of pairing that could wake up the Giants’ offense, especially given how Stafford clicked with Puka Nacua last season in L.A.
But, of course, this trade is easier said than done.
Stafford and Jones are signed to four-year, $160 million deals, meaning that for the Giants to take on Stafford, they’d have to move Jones—and that wouldn’t be cheap.
Plus, the Giants might have to pay part of Jones’ salary for this season and the next, making him a little more affordable for another team to take on, probably the Rams or another QB-needed team.
And for the Rams to even consider trading Stafford, they would have to be willing to basically give up on their season, especially since they’re currently 2-4.
On the one hand, the Rams could call this a rebuilding year and start collecting draft picks, but on the other hand, with star wide receiver Cooper Kupp returning soon from injury, they might think they still have a shot at the playoffs.
Giving up Stafford might feel like they’re throwing in the towel, which makes this trade a bit more complicated.
So, let’s say the Rams decide they’re open to trading Stafford.
If the Giants were to make a move, they could jump back into the Wildcard race for the NFC and have a real shot at turning this season around.
Even if Stafford doesn’t make them a Super Bowl contender overnight, he could at least get the offense moving and bring back some excitement to MetLife Stadium.
But there’s a lot more on the line here than this season.
Without question, the Giants also have to think about their future.
The team was reportedly interested in snagging a new young quarterback in last year’s draft—someone like Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye—but they didn’t have the draft position to pull it off.
So, if they bring in Stafford now, that might also give them time to plan for the long term, maybe finding a rookie QB in the next draft or two to groom under Stafford.
There’s also the fact that they can part ways with Jones after the 2024 season with a $22.2 million dead cap hit.
That’s not exactly cheap, but it’s a manageable loss if the Giants believe Stafford—or a promising rookie in the future—will be the guy to lead them to victory.
Thus, even if Stafford only sticks around for a season or two, this could be the setup New York needs to find its long-term QB answer.
Even if Jones gets his job back next week, his future with the Giants is shaky at best.
He’s had moments where he looked like he might be the guy, but as the offense keeps floundering, his hold on the starting role feels weaker.
Daboll has been clear that Jones gives the team the best chance to win, but the numbers don’t really back that up.
The Giants have just one home touchdown this season, and their offense keeps getting quieter and quieter.
And it’s not like Jones has a ton of competition in New York’s QB room.
The Giants brought in Lock as a backup on a one-year, $5 million deal, with Tommy DeVito sitting as their third-string QB.
There aren’t many options here, so it makes sense why Daboll is reluctant to bench Jones altogether.
But if the Giants decide to pull the trigger on a Stafford trade, that could change very quickly.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to whether the Giants think a guy like Stafford can bring the spark that Daboll and the fans are hoping for.
A move like this would be a big swing, especially with both teams facing complicated decisions.
The Rams could choose to keep Stafford and make a push for the playoffs, especially with Cooper Kupp on his way back.
Or, they might just lean into a rebuild and stock up on draft picks for the future, in which case a Stafford trade could actually happen.
The Giants are scheduled to play the Pittsburgh Steelers next week, and with the trade deadline coming on November 5th, this game could be Jones’ last shot to prove he deserves to stay.
If he can’t step it up, the voices calling for a Stafford trade will only get louder.
Clearly, New York is in a bind, and whatever decisions are made could impact the roster for years to come.
Whether it’s Stafford, Jones, or someone else entirely, one thing’s clear: the Giants need that spark.
And fans everywhere are waiting to see who brings it.