What Giants were willing to give Matthew Stafford before they drafted Jaxson Dart

New York Giants fans and first-year Giants head coach John Harbaugh are thrilled that second-year pro Jaxson Dart is serving as the club's first-choice quarterback heading into the fall.

That said, it's now no secret that the Giants seriously explored acquiring current Los Angeles Rams QB1 Matthew Stafford before Big Blue selected Dart in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. On Monday, Dan Duggan of The Athletic revealed more information about the Giants' interest in Stafford following the 2024 season.

What could have been for Giants, Matthew Stafford? 

"It’s easy to forget the paths they explored before landing Dart," Duggan wrote about the Giants. "The Giants’ top target in that search will be on the SoFi Stadium field Monday night, as they heavily pursued a trade for Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford last offseason. The Giants were willing to offer Stafford a two-year contract worth at least $100M, while the trade package going to the Rams would have been headlined by New York’s 2025 second-round pick (No. 34)." 

Stafford eventually worked out an agreement to remain with the Rams, and he made it known in the spring of 2025 that he "never really wanted to leave" the club. He then earned MVP honors for the campaign, while the Giants fired then-coach Brian Daboll in November 2025.

"The Giants met with Stafford’s agent at the scouting combine last February to discuss finances as the prospect of landing one of the most prolific passers in NFL history became more realistic," Duggan continued. "But Stafford ultimately elected to remain in Los Angeles, leaving significant money on the table to sign a two-year, $80M extension."

Giants had interesting Plan B after Matthew Stafford stayed put

In March 2025, whispers suggested that the Giants were interested in taking a flier on future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers after Stafford elected to stay with the Rams. While Rodgers and the New York Jets officially broke up that same month, he remained unsigned until he joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in June 2025.

"The Giants pursued other avenues before securing Dart," Duggan added. "Aaron Rodgers was their Plan B until they tired of waiting on the mercurial four-time MVP, instead signing veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston."

Daboll started Wilson through just the first three games of the 2025 season, and Wilson is now working for CBS. Meanwhile, Winston is still serving as a backup for the Giants. 

What's done is done, and Harbaugh will now hope that the previous Giants coaching staff has gifted him with a talent who becomes a true franchise quarterback. In the Giants' Week 1 28-20 win over the rival Dallas Cowboys, Dart completed 23-of-29 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 54 yards on 11 carries. 

The 0-1 Rams host the 1-0 Giants on Monday night. As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had New York as a 6.5-point road underdog for that game.