The past week or so has inched closer and closer to a huge change in the NFC West. No, the San Francisco 49ers aren't involved in a potential Matthew Stafford trade.
However, the Los Angeles Rams have officially given Stafford's agent permission to talk to other teams in order to gauge interest level and how teams would perceive his worth on an annual basis.
Now, will a Stafford trade actually happen?
My money says there's no chance. But, never say never during the NFL offseason. As we have learned, time and time again, it's never official until pen hits the paper. And, for Stafford to stick around in L.A., pen must indeed hit the paper.
Stafford is in line for a raise, but will the Rams oblige? For now, we're in the midst of a fluid situation that is changing on a daily basis. Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer gave his latest update Monday morning and things are starting to get a little more real in this saga.
Matthew Stafford has officially been linked to multiple teams in trade rumors
"The teams you’d suspect would have their hat in the ring have, indeed, thrown their hats in the ring," Breer wrote. "The New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Las Vegas Raiders and others have shown interest."
Once again, I don't foresee a trade happening. However, if the Rams end up trading Cooper Kupp like they intend to, and opt to move into more of a rebuild by trading Stafford, the 49ers are right back in the driver's seat for the NFC West crown.
Last season was a down year, but the 49ers did endure a few significant injuries. This offseason will be about securing Brock Purdy for the foreseeable future while getting guys like Christian. McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk healthy.
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A Deebo Samuel trade or release could be on its way as well, but so long as Kyle Shanahan is here and the team is able to keep its other top veterans and core pieces, they'll be in the conversation for NFC supremacy.
The Rams, meanwhile, would take a huge step back if they didn't have Stafford. The only potential saving grace for L.A. might be bringing in Kirk Cousins and hoping he still has something left in the tank in a McVay offense.
Although, last year, Cousins was in a similar offense with Zac Robinson and, well, we know how that turned out.
Will this division be getting easier for the Niners? It's only a matter of time as the Combine ramps up and rumors start swirling even more.
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