The Detroit Lions might have traded Matthew Stafford away, but they got an excellent move in return.
Parting with a quarterback who has been the cornerstone of the franchise for nearly a decade is never easy, but it has to happen eventually. At the Detroit Lions, they were informed by Matthew Stafford, their first overall winner in 2009, that he wanted to play elsewhere in 2021. It was up to the Lions to find a new home for Stafford and receive an excellent return in return.
Fortunately for Detroit, they had themselves in the market by Saturday. According to reports, a deal was made before Super Bowl 55. After this news, it was only hours before the Lions made a deal with … the Los Angeles Rams.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter broke the news that the Lions would send Stafford to the Rams for two future round first picks, one round third pick and quarterback Jared Goff. While the Rams are considered the winners of the trade, the Lions have done pretty well too.
Lions receive much-needed design funding
The Lions made it clear they didn’t expect the team to compete against each other for some time after signing new head coach Dan Campbell on an unprecedented six-year deal. So this deal gives Detroit a go-ahead.
When it comes to Goff, the Lions are demoted to the quarterback position. Goff is kicking off a campaign in 2020 that has accumulated 3,952 passes, 20 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions, with players like Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Van Jefferson, and Tyler Higbee. Put simply, Goff didn’t hit his end of the $ 134 million bargain.
But that’s not really what this trade is about. The Lions received the draft capital they desperately needed to rebuild their roster, with broad receiver needs, offensive line, and defensive line needs. Now they can address the areas that need improvement over the next few years. There is also the possibility that Lions could use this capital to advance in the 2021 NFL draft and potentially choose their future signal caller.
If he looks at Goff’s contract, he’s guaranteed $ 43 million over the next two years. After the 2022 season, Goff will have zero dead money, according to Spotrac. It’s not that Lions will be tied to him until the end of his business in 2025.
Sure, the Rams get an upgrade at quarterback to advance the Super Bowl, but you can’t call the Lions losers of the trade. Detroit got exactly what they wanted and needed to be successful, and General Manager Brad Holmes should be commended for it.
