The Vikings have been named as a potential suitor to trade for Matthew Stafford

The Vikings have been named as a potential suitor to trade for Matthew Stafford

The Vikings are 5-0 and Sam Darnold appears to be the most improved player in the NFL. So why would they enjoy trading for a quarterback?

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk mentioned Minnesota as a potential suitor to inquire about Matthew Stafford if the Rams decide to move on from QB1 amid a 1-4 start to the season.

“For example, if the Jets come up with a scheme to make Sam Darnold look lethal, the Vikings would be wise (if they lose to the Lions and then to the Stafford Rams) to at least consider the possibility of an upgrade,” Florio wrote. (Coincidentally, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell and Stafford worked together for a year in Los Angeles and both won a Super Bowl ring for their efforts.)

Stafford is 36 years old and has more than two years remaining on his 4-year, $160 million contract. He will win a Super Bowl in 2022, but given the Vikings’ current situation with Darnold on a team-friendly deal and JJ McCarthy on the wings as the team’s future franchise QB, a trade to acquire Stafford wouldn’t make much sense.

Florio has mentioned how injury could be the impetus for a Stafford trade. If Darnold goes down, it might at least make sense for Minnesota to make a deal because they look like one of the best teams in the NFC.

Fortunately for Vikings fans, Darnold was not injured, but he is coming off his worst start of the season. Last week’s win over the Jets was his first game without a pass, and he completed just 45.2% of his passes, but Minnesota won.

Darnold has completed 63.5% of his passes this year for 1,111 yards, 11 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Stafford completed 67.4% of his passes for 1,238 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. There is no confirmed evidence that Stafford would be a clear upgrade.

The Vikings are undoubtedly one of the surprise teams in the NFL this season and Darnold is one of the surprise players, but it wouldn’t make sense to fix something that isn’t broken.

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