Rams go All-in with Matthew Stafford Trade

Scott Long

1/31/2021

The Los Angeles Rams made it to the playoffs this year, winning their first-round matchup against the Seattle Seahawks before getting eliminated by the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round. However, General Manager Les Snead and Head Coach Sean McVay, were not satisfied with the way the season ended, and were particularly not satisfied with the play coming from the quarterback position, opting to bring Matthew Stafford over from the Detroit Lions, in exchange for Jared Goff, first-round draft picks in 2022 and 2023, as well as a third-round draft pick in the upcoming 2021 draft.

This may seem like a hefty price for a quarterback upgrade, but the quarterback position is so crucial in the NFL, that the Rams felt comfortable making this move, especially considering the fact that the team is ready to win right now with a defense fronted by two-time Defensive Player of the Year Award Winner, Aaron Donald, and Jalen Ramsey. When the Rams traded up in the 2016 NFL Draft to select Goff, they thought he was the future of the franchise, so they were willing to trade away two first-round picks, two second-round picks and two third round-picks to the Tennessee Titans to move up for him. Things continued to point in this direction for the first few seasons as well, as Goff followed up a shaky rookie season with back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons in 2017 and 2018, leading the Rams to the playoffs both years. In fact, in 2018, the Rams made it all the way to the Super Bowl, where they were defeated by Tom Brady and the New England Patriots 13-3. After leading the team to the Super Bowl, the Rams were convinced Goff was their franchise quarterback, inking him to a then record, four-year extension worth $134 million, with $110 million guaranteed prior to the 2019 season. However, despite solid numbers the following season for Goff, the Rams missed the playoffs in 2019, causing some to doubt if Goff was worth the extension the team signed him to. In the 2020 season, Goff was able to lead the Rams to the playoffs, however this was on the backs of a strong defensive unit and effective running game. A late season thumb injury put Goff’s postseason in jeopardy, and he was forced to serve as John Wolford’s backup due to the injury. However, with Wolford exiting early with an injury of his own, Goff stepped in and showed no signs of injury, leading many to wonder what his future held with the Rams.

Ultimately, the Rams decided Stafford gives them a better chance to win a Super Bowl then Goff did. However, due to Goff’s hefty salary, in order for the Rams to fit Stafford’s contract under the salary cap, Goff had to be sent the other way in the deal. Stafford will join an offense that features Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp at wide receiver, Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett at tight end and Cam Akers, Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson at running back. Their defense features the aforementioned, Donald and Ramsey, along with cornerback Marcus Peters, defensive end Michael Brockers and linebacker Leonard Floyd, among others. Snead and McVay are hoping the addition of Stafford will be the final boost the team needs to add to it to improve upon their 10-6 record and make a deep playoff run, with eyes on a Lombardi Trophy. The Rams have shown a willingness to make bold moves, as they have now traded away first-round selections to get Goff, Brandin Cooks, Ramsey and Stafford, which has resulted in the team having no first-round selections from 2017-2023, and they are hoping this move will put them over the edge.

As for the Detroit Lions, trading Stafford was a no-brainer move, as the team is in a rebuild, and Stafford wanted a shot at a Super Bowl, so it made sense for both sides. The Lions were able to get significant draft capital and will likely look to continue to stockpile picks to fully enter the rebuild, under new Head Coach Dan Campbell. Detroit already owns the seventh overall selection this year, and now owns two first-round selections in 2022 and 2023, as well as Jared Goff, who gives the team a possible long-term answer at quarterback, or at the very least a bridge-quarterback who can play for the foreseeable future, while a potential draft pick sits behind and learns from him. The Lions received at least 6 different offers for Stafford, including significant offers from the Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers, and Chicago Bears, and inquiries from the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Indianapolis Colts as well, but opted to go with the offer from the Rams.

This blockbuster trade will likely have a significant impact on the NFL this upcoming season as well as for the foreseeable future, with it having implications on the playoffs and the NFL Draft the next few seasons. Only time will tell, who wins this trade, but it can’t be denied that the Rams are making every effort to take that next step and win a Super Bowl, and they’re hoping that Stafford is the missing link.