The Vikings Shouldn’t Be Scared of Going All-In On Matt Stafford
Credit: Jeffrey Becker via Imagn Images
It’s not surprising that the most significant talking point for many months now has been about the Minnesota Vikings starting quarterback in 2025. What is surprising is that a two-horse race suddenly has a third entry… maybe. Most speculation has revolved around Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy, but the Vikings have just emerged as a possible favorite to land Matthew Stafford within the last week.
SportsBettingAG released their odds on where Stafford will play in 2025, if not with the Rams. The Vikings are on top of the list at +300, followed by the New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, Indianapolis Colts, and New York Jets.
My first reaction, along with many other fans, was to blow it off instantly. After all, Stafford carries a cap hit of almost $30 million in 2025, and draft capital would have to go back to the Rams to get the deal done. But are there other factors in play that make a Stafford to Minnesota the right play? Yes, there are! Let’s break them down.
The Vikings are still looking for their first Super Bowl victory, having reached the Super Bowl four times in the ’70’s, but were on the wrong side of the result in each game. Since then, Gary Anderson’s missed kick in 1998, the infamous end of Brett Favre‘s 2009 season, a blowout by the Philadelphia Eagles following the Minneapolis Miracle, and countless other disappointments have kept them from reaching the ultimate goal.
The good news for the Vikings is that their Super Bowl window is wide open, and trading for Stafford doesn’t jeopardize that window’s length while also making the Vikings one of the favorites in 2025.
If the Rams do decide to trade away Stafford, they could end up paying some off his salary as part of the negotiations, but even if the Vikings had to take the full freight, it wouldn’t devastate the team. Remember when Kirk Cousins signed his two-year extension with the Vikings, which paid him over $30 million a year? The Vikings were still able to build an ultra-competitive team around him. The Vikings are projected to have over $63 million in cap space heading into free agency, and with Rob Brzezinski always working his magic with the salary cap, I am sure he can find a few extra million dollars to spend.
It’s unclear what the Rams would be looking for in a trade, but it’s hard to imagine LA would take anything less than a first-round draft pick. Honestly, the draft capital given up would probably be the hardest for the Vikings to give up, as they currently have just three 2025 picks. Having only two draft picks left would hurt, but what if it results in that Super Bowl victory? I don’t care if the Vikings have zero draft picks — sign me up for that Super Bowl parade.
We also have to consider the makeup of the Vikings team: this team seems to be just a quarterback and a couple of other small pieces away from being genuine contenders to win it all. On offense, Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are one of the best wide receiver duos in the league. The Brian Flores-led defense also has playmakers all over the field. Ivan Pace Jr, Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Greenard, and Blake Cashman are cornerstones of a strong unit in 2025. Darren Wolfson of SKOR North said last week that the chances of Harrison Smith being back in Minnesota for his 14th season are increasing.
What’s the big question mark for this team? Quarterback. Everyone is saying all the right things about McCarthy, but are we positive he’s ready to hit the ground running? All Vikings fans hope he’s the greatest quarterback since Fran Tarkenton, but there is no guarantee that any quarterback will work out, especially coming off a torn meniscus.
The Rams have a known commodity in Stafford, and even though he’s 37 years old, there is no reason he can’t be the answer for at least one year. After the 2025 season, the Vikings can decide whether to move forward with Stafford or try to trade him away and start the McCarthy Era.
Maybe McCarthy could come in and lead the Vikings to a Super Bowl in 2025, but that’s a big unknown for a team with legit Super Bowl aspirations. The Vikings need a more definitive answer, and Stafford A) has a ring and B) is a Hall of Fame-caliber quarterback. Windows can close quickly in this league, and Stafford can help Minnesota maximize their odds for next season.
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