The Los Angeles Rams have officially granted quarterback Matthew Stafford permission to speak to other teams to assess his potential value and the New York Giants are expected to explore a trade.

Despite that, at least one Rams insider believes this is all much ado about nothing, especially when it comes to the Giants.

Not everyone shares that line of thinking, however.

An anonymous but “experienced” NFL general manager told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that he does expect Stafford to be traded… to the New York Football Giants.

Based on recent reports and public comments and other things churning in the broader NFL rumor mill, one experienced G.M. has a prediction as to how the Matthew Stafford and Aaron Rodgers companion mysteries will be resolved.

Step one, Stafford gets traded to the Giants.

Step two, Rodgers signs with the Rams.

Florio points out that although it’s just a prediction, it’s not coming from a member of the media or a random fan. Rather, this is coming from “someone who knows a thing or two about how the NFL sausage gets made, based on having plenty of time turning the handle.”

Stafford wants a raise over the $27 million the Rams are due to pay him in 2025. If Stafford and the Rams can’t work it out — and if the Giants (with a coach and/or a G.M. on the hot seat) want to make a big swing in the hopes of winning now — they’d be a candidate to pay him and to give the Rams fair and proper trade compensation.

The fact that an NFL general manager is now predicting Stafford to the Giants adds a bit of intrigue to the speculation. Perhaps this idea has a stronger set of legs than many realized.