COLUMN: Detroit Lions trade Stafford for Goff

Before the end of the 2020 NFL season,  we already have our first blockbuster move of the new 2021 season. In a trade that swaps two players both taken first overall in their respective draft, we see Jared Goff going to the Lions and Matthew Stafford going to the Rams. The full trade can be seen below:

The Lions receive: Jared Goff, 2021 3rd round pick, 2022 first round pick, and a 2023 first round pick.

The Rams receive: Matthew Stafford 

Grading each team’s trade:

Lions: A

The Lions got a haul for quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Lions wanted at least a first round pick and a day two or day three pick, but the team was not expecting another one first rounder. The Rams were the only team to offer a second first-round pick for Stafford mainly because of the addition of Rams quarterback Jared Goff. Nobody really wanted Goff’s contract, but the Lions got more than enough picks to accept it. The Lions are in a rebuild mode; they have a new GM, a new head coach, and a new whole staff. The trade makes sense the Lions are building for the future. As much as we didn’t want to see Stafford go, Stafford wants to be on a winning team and that’s not the direction the Lions are heading in. The Lions are in a great spot to build for the future; they have 5 first round picks in the next 3 years.

Rams: B-

The Rams have their guy now, they have their quarterback back that head coach Sean Mcvay wanted, but they had to give up a lot for it. 2016 was the last time the Rams had a first-round pick and now they won’t have one through 2023. That is seven straight years the Rams will have without a first round pick. The Rams have done well without first round picks so far, but with expiring contracts coming up, not a lot of cap space, and with no first round picks in sight the Rams are in win now mode. This is a win-win trade for both teams, but if the Rams are unable to win with this roster they are in some trouble. This is a good trade for the Rams; they got rid of Jared Goff and they got their quarterback for the next two years, but they did give up a lot to get it.

Before the end of the 2020 NFL season,  we already have our first blockbuster move of the new 2021 season. In a trade that swaps two players both taken first overall in their respective draft, we see Jared Goff going to the Lions and Matthew Stafford going to the Rams. The full trade can be seen below:

The Lions receive: Jared Goff, 2021 3rd round pick, 2022 first round pick, and a 2023 first round pick.

The Rams receive: Matthew Stafford 

Grading each team’s trade:

Lions: A

The Lions got a haul for quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Lions wanted at least a first round pick and a day two or day three pick, but the team was not expecting another one first rounder. The Rams were the only team to offer a second first-round pick for Stafford mainly because of the addition of Rams quarterback Jared Goff. Nobody really wanted Goff’s contract, but the Lions got more than enough picks to accept it. The Lions are in a rebuild mode; they have a new GM, a new head coach, and a new whole staff. The trade makes sense the Lions are building for the future. As much as we didn’t want to see Stafford go, Stafford wants to be on a winning team and that’s not the direction the Lions are heading in. The Lions are in a great spot to build for the future; they have 5 first round picks in the next 3 years.

Rams: B-

The Rams have their guy now, they have their quarterback back that head coach Sean Mcvay wanted, but they had to give up a lot for it. 2016 was the last time the Rams had a first-round pick and now they won’t have one through 2023. That is seven straight years the Rams will have without a first round pick. The Rams have done well without first round picks so far, but with expiring contracts coming up, not a lot of cap space, and with no first round picks in sight the Rams are in win now mode. This is a win-win trade for both teams, but if the Rams are unable to win with this roster they are in some trouble. This is a good trade for the Rams; they got rid of Jared Goff and they got their quarterback for the next two years, but they did give up a lot to get it.