Dec 26, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) and Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (90) in action at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
Sometimes, the saying, “There’s a take for everything,” really rings true.
That’s the case for a wild quarterback trade idea involving the Minnesota Vikings, broadcasted to the masses on ProFootballTalk.com over the weekend. In short, PFT’s Mike Florio insinuated Minnesota could or should swing a trade with the Los Angeles Rams for quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Stafford and Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell won a Super Bowl together in 2021 (2022 on the calendar) mere days before O’Connell took the big job in Minnesota.
Florio explained: “If, for example, the Jets provided a blueprint for making Sam Darnold look mortal, the Vikings would be wise (if they lose to the Lions and then to Stafford’s Rams) to at least entertain the possibility of an upgrade. (Coincidentally, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell and Stafford worked together for a year in L.A. And they both won a Super Bowl ring for their efforts.)”
Darnold ranks 11th in the NFL per EPA+CPOE through six weeks among all quarterbacks, an efficiency metric measuring expected wins added. Minnesota is severely unlikely to trade Darnold. In fact, injury is the only factor that might spur a Vikings trade with the Rams for Stafford.
Florio mentioned the injury angle, too, “It’s more likely that the destination will be driven by injury. We’ve got four more weekends of football before the window closes. One season-ending injury is all it takes for Stafford to have a new home. And for the Rams to get a nice return,” he wrote. “In 2011, the Bengals and quarterback Carson Palmer were at impasse. Two days before the trade deadline, Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell suffered a broken collarbone. That sparked a Palmer trade to Oakland.”
Minnesota’s coaching staff is enamored with Darnold and hasn’t been shy about singing his praises. “I knew all along if we could get some guys open, Sam Darnold’s gonna hit them. He can play quarterback in the NFL. I’ve always believed that. I’m just proud of him. He’s not really worried about anything just than his role on our team,” O’Connell said about Darnold after Week 5 on The Pat McAfee Show.
“He’s one of our captains. He works as hard as anybody each and every day to be ready to go. I’m not surprised when he goes out and has success. The challenge for Sam and our whole team is handling success — being able to reinvent ourselves as a team every single week and staying true to how we want to play.”
And if full support of Darnold isn’t enough to pump the brakes on Stafford trade theories, well, there’s the draft capital aspect. Minnesota doesn’t have much ammunition to trade for a star quarterback after an expensive deal needed to acquire rookie EDGE rusher Dallas Turner six months ago. Los Angeles would either have to accept 5th-Rounders for Stafford — not going to happen — or the Vikings’ 2026 draft picks.
Florio is right about one thing: the only way the purple team will trade for starting quarterbacks in the next three weeks is if Darnold encounters a season-ending ailment like his teammate J.J. McCarthy.
Otherwise, 2024 is the Darnold show.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.