Who won the Matt Stafford trade?
It’s January 30th, 2021, getting late in the night, and all NFL fans get an alert to their phones informing them of one of the craziest January trades in recent history. Matt Stafford was traded from the Lions to the Rams in exchange for two first Rond picks, a third round pick and former first overall pick (2016), Jared Goff. At first glance, the Rams were robbed, not only did they trade away Goff, who once was their franchise quarterback, but also two first rounder picks. Trading away these two first rounders is absurd, especially considering they haven’t drafted in the first round since 2016 when they selected, oh wait, Jared Goff… There is a hope for the Rams, however, the team seems to be going into an all out, “win now” mentality. The organization has determined that the one aspect of the team holding them back was whoever lined up under center, and they executed the move that made the most sense for them in present time. As for the future of the organization, after some of their stars’ contracts expire, who knows what will happen, that will be a discussion for another time.
So the Rams didn’t win this trade, did the Lions? The team fired Matt Patricia towards the latter end of the season and just recently hired Dan Campbell off of the Saints, as their new head coach. Shortly after this hire, Stafford requested a trade in a mutual parting of ways. This was ultimately the best situation for the new coach; he’s got the framework of a potentially great team, and a quarterback opening. Campbell has certainly set the standard for his tenure with this trade and his team will definitely be one to watch for the next several of years. The Lions were in a situation where they had to trade their current quarterback and got possibly the best deal they could have. They obtained a player who has led his team to the superbowl and also a two time pro bowler along with, as we’ve stated prior, TWO first round picks and a third. But with all of this, the Lions didn’t win this trade either.
The true winner of this trade is Matt Stafford. He’s spent 12 seasons with Detroit, which is pretty long career with an organization that is notorious for forcing stars into early retirements, has eight 4,000+ yard seasons, one of which tipping over 5,000. Stafford is one of the guys in the league that everyone wants to see achieve success. If nothing else, the man received the opportunity to retire in sunny California rather than Detroit, but I think we all want to see him win a Super Bowl with his new team in those fresh new threads.