Tag: trade reaction

Grading the Lions and Rams blockbuster QB trade

Grades for both the Lions and Rams on the trade

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Two No. 1 overall picks have never been traded in the same deal, but that’s exactly what happened with the blockbuster agreement between the Lions and Rams to swap Detroit QB Matthew Stafford for Los Angeles QB Jared Goff and several NFL draft picks.

The full deal, which cannot be made official until March 17th:

Lions trade

QB Matthew Stafford

Rams trade

QB Jared Goff

2021 third-round draft pick

2022 first-round pick

2023 first-round pick

The Lions and new GM Brad Holmes deserve high marks for picking up two first-round picks and a third-round pick for a player they knew they had to trade. Maximizing the return on Stafford was the priority and Holmes appeared to do that in dealing with his old team. It’s too early to know what happens with all the picks, of course, but the Lions hold five first-round picks in the next three drafts. Those represent tremendous leverage and assets to work with for a rebuilding team.

Adding Goff gives the Lions an instant solution for replacing Stafford as the starting QB. He’s been more successful than Stafford from a team aspect, though as an individual player he’s a downgrade from No. 9. Goff gets a chance to prove himself outside of Los Angeles and a coaching staff that didn’t believe in him. A former No. 1 overall pick playing with motivation? That door swings both ways on this trade.

The only real negative is that the first-round picks acquired are not in the 2021 NFL draft.

Lions grade: A-minus

For the Rams, it’s quickly “prove it” time for both head coach Sean McVay and for Stafford. McVay didn’t feel he could ascend any higher with Goff. Now he’s got Stafford, a superior individual talent, to run his offense and some impressive weapons already in place.

It’s the ideal spot for Stafford, aside from maybe the Colts. The Rams are a playoff team already. They have everything he needs to break the narrative that he cannot win a postseason game.

The Rams are now all-in on winning with what they’ve got. With no first-round picks until 2024 and with half of their old front office now in Detroit, it’s a bold strike at capturing the NFC over the next two seasons. Rams fans couldn’t ask for more, though the cost is very steep.

Rams grade: B-plus

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Initial reaction to the Lions trading Matthew Stafford for 2 first-round picks and Jared Goff

Two firsts, a third and Jared Goff is a lot of return for Matthew Stafford

Like many Lions fans, I woke up on Sunday morning to some stunning news. The Lions traded QB Matthew Stafford overnight, shipping him to the Los Angeles Rams for a third-round pick in 2021, first-round picks in 2022 and 2023 and QB Jared Goff.

Here is my honest reaction and thought process as I laid in the haziness of just awakening and scrolled through all the chaos I missed overnight.

My focus is on the picks. The Lions now own five first-round picks in the next three drafts. That’s the only proper way to view the deal through a Lions prism. Detroit can control the 2021 draft and manipulate it via trades however they want. they have the firepower to go and acquire any pick they want, or any player who might be available for multiple first-round picks.

I expect Stafford and the Rams to be successful, at least in 2021, so the 2022 first-rounder from Los Angeles figures to be in the 20s. That screams “trade this pick” to me, and knowing Brad Holmes’ history with the Rams and how they handle first-round picks, I almost expect it to be dealt this year.

For Stafford, it’s a tremendous landing spot. The Rams are a playoff team whose coach and GM each felt was held back by quarterback play, even though Goff led them to a Super Bowl two seasons ago and played remarkably well in the NFC playoff win over the New Orleans Saints along the way. I think we’ll learn quickly if Stafford is capable of winning a playoff game, for those who refuse to judge him under any other prism.

Goff strikes me initially as the starting QB for the Lions in 2021 but nothing certain beyond that. I couldn’t fathom the Lions trading for his contract, so I guess I can’t say it’s impossible Detroit summarily flips him to another team, but I’m prepared to watch Goff in the Honolulu blue and sliver in 2021. He’s the “bridge” to the next generation QB, whether it’s Trey Lance or Justin Fields or Zach Wilson or someone who is still in college (Sam Howell?).

I’m thrilled at the return Holmes extricated on his first real move as the Lions GM. Getting two firsts, a third and a ready-to-roll starting QB who has led his team to the postseason in two of the last three years and whose “bad” year was a 9-7 finish is exciting. The Lions were not going to do better than this deal, period.