Will Rams Pursue A.J. Brown Trade To Pacify Matthew Stafford?

The Los Angeles Rams could've used the No. 13 overall pick in this year's draft on another weapon for Matthew Stafford. Instead, the front office selected the MVP's eventual replacement.

Stafford was truly sensational for the Rams last season, completing 65% of his pass attempts for 4,707 yards with 46 touchdowns and eight interceptions. That being said, he's been flirting with retirement for the past few years. And clearly the Rams felt like Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson was too intriguing to pass up with the 13th pack.

While the Rams have stated multiple times that Stafford will lead their team for as long as he wants, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk is convinced there's tension behind the scenes.

"What if Matthew Stafford says, ‘Screw it, I retire.' What if he decides, you're not making me an offer I like, so I'm going to retire," Florio said. "I think the what if has to be in the conversation for his potential reaction to the Rams drafting his replacement. Why are they bending over backwards if they're not worried about how he's going to respond?"

If the Rams are truly worried about Stafford, they could get him a talented playmaker before Week 1 of the 2026 season arrives.

Would A.J. Brown make sense for the Rams?

A little over a month ago, the Rams were mentioned as a potential suitor for Philadelphia Eagles wideout A.J. Brown. However, that was before they pulled the trigger on a trade for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie.

Since the Eagles aren't expected to trade Brown until after June 1, there's technically a chance the Rams will re-engage in negotiations. As of now though, Los Angeles fans shouldn't expect a deal to go down.

According to Nate Atkins of The Athletic, the Rams are not expected to re-engage in trade talks for Brown.

For what it's worth, Mike Florio previously reported that Los Angeles backed out of negotiations after discovering "general wear-and-tear" during medical research on Brown. Perhaps that's why a deal is unlikely.

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This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 8:47 AM.