On Saturday night (January 30), a massive deal shocked NFL fans alike as the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams agree to a monster deal to trade their quarterbacks. The franchise quarterbacks for each team will be wearing a new hue of Blue come this fall.
The Rams traded 26-year-old Jared Goff, as well as three draft picks, a 2021 third-round pick, and two subsequent first round picks in 2022 and 2023, to the Detroit Lions for 32-year-old Matthew Stafford. While the trade cannot become official until the new season begins on March 17th, 2021, you can expect this to be a done deal.
Multiple teams had offers on the table for Stafford, however Los Angeles won out. This deal isn’t all gravy, as the Rams will still need to pay Stafford his remaining contract of $43 million for two years, while the Lions will take on the $106 million for four years, contracted of Goff.
There was ample stipulation during the second half of the season that Goff would not call Los Angeles home next season, with a paltry season, while they did make it to the playoffs, that was with a lot of help, thanks to an excellent D-Line that held their own this season, including a fantastic season by Aaron Donald, and offensive playmakers like Cooper Kupp, Cam Akers, Robert Woods, and Tyler Higbee.
Meanwhile, the Lions missing out of the playoffs for fourth season in a row meant their staff was looking for changes in the post and off season following the Thanksgiving Day Game loss that turned into a firing of multiple staff members including their head coach and general manager. They’re hoping that the trade and acquired draft picks will mean fresh blood and some hope being brought to Detroit.
Will we see these two teams meet again in the post-season next year? Time will tell, but you know the regular season match up in Los Angeles will be one for the books.
