Matthew Stafford trade grades: Lions land multiple premium picks and Jared Goff, Rams continue unique strategy

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2021-nfl-mock-draft-falcons-trade-up-for-zach-wilson-49ers-find-jimmy-garoppolo-replacement/

In the world of sports, a blockbuster trade can strike at any time and that’s exactly what happened when the Detroit Lions agreed to deal franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Goff and three future NFL draft picks, as confirmed by CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora. After the dust settled, the Rams sent Goff, their 2021 third-round pick, their 2022 first-round pick and their 2023 first-round pick to the Lions for Stafford.

It didn’t take long for first-year Lions general manager Brad Holmes to make a big splash. Holmes came to Detroit from Los Angeles where he was the director of college scouting with the Rams from 2013-2020 — so it’s safe to say he an excellent idea about what the Lions will be getting in return with Goff as their new quarterback. This trade also carries a significant financial impact from a salary cap standpoint. Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Rams will inherit the two years, $43 million remaining on Matthew Stafford’s contract. The Lions will inherit four years, $106.6M remaining on Jared Goff’s contract. The Rams will carry a $22.2M dead cap hit in 2021 after trading Goff and the Lions will carry a $17.8 million dead cap hit in 2021.

Now that the deal is in the books, it’s the perfect time to assign trade grades for both sides.

Lions
Trade Grade: A

When Stafford’s name first surfaced on the trade market, the expectation was the Lions would be able to acquire a first-round draft pick as compensation for dealing him. At no point did anyone mention anything about two first-round draft picks and a third-round pick. The two premium draft picks and the extra third-rounder will allow Detroit to rebuild their roster via the draft — no more patchwork rebuilds. This will be music to Lions fans everywhere as the roster has failed to commit to a full rebuild for the last decade. Of course, the Lions also acquired Jared Goff and his massive contract in addition to the three draft picks. Goff, still just 26 years old and two years removed from winning the NFC conference, may or may not be in Detroit’s long-term plans. His contract carries an out prior to the 2023 season, but the Lions can also move on from him after the 2021 season and take a $15 million dead cap hit on his $40 million 2022 cap number. Detroit managed to acquire three key picks to help bolster their rebuild the right way for a player who they publicly agreed they would trade just a few days ago.

Rams
Trade Grade: B-

The Rams have a unique strategy. After completing this trade, they will now go seven consecutive draft classes without owning a first-round pick. Of course, they can trade for one at a later date, but that seems unlikely. The current Rams regime believes in their ability to locate talent on the second and third days of the draft and so they’re willing to make big moves to acquire already developed NFL stars (Jalen Ramsey, Stafford, etc.) using their first-round picks as leverage. However, with their total salary cap number rising, long-term salary cap allocated to stars like Ramsey, Stafford, Aaron Donald and others, and their offensive line aging — they aren’t leaving much margin for error. Trading draft picks also makes it harder to field a deep roster and compete in seasons where the injury luck is not on your side.

Of course, on paper, the Rams just upgrade their passing game and offense overall. Stafford will be an excellent fit in Sean McVay’s wide zone play-action offense. His ability to stretch the field vertically will open up new areas of the field for the passing game while at the same time creating softer boxes for Cam Akers to run through. In the short term, behind an elite defense and with talented skill players on offense, acquiring Stafford could be the boost Los Angeles needs to win the conference. The Rams also deserve a grade bump for dumping Goff’s contract on the Lions. It was always going to be difficult for the Rams to trade Goff this offseason based on his contract, but this creative deal accomplished that while also landing them a major upgrade at QB. It came at a hefty price though.

Did the Rams become a Super Bowl contender with Matthew Stafford or did the Lions pull off a heist?@PFF_Eric + @PFF_Brad breakdown the blockbuster trade: https://t.co/ttyh8j9aXg

— PFF (@PFF) January 31, 2021

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
My understanding is that the Rams could very well look into the possibility of an extension for Stafford in the immediate, because adding an extra year to his current two-year, $43 million will make the contract a little more team-friendly in the short term as they carry weight

Rich Hammond@Rich_Hammond
I still cannot process this. The Rams went all-in on Jared Goff 17 months ago, a year earlier than they needed to pay him. Publicly raved about him. And now they had to give up an extra first-round pick just to get out of that contract.

OK, well, it better work.

Albert Breer@AlbertBreer
Twenty-two quarterbacks were drafted in the first round between 2009 and 2016. None of them remain with the teams that drafted them. Zee. Row.

Only three first-round QBs from ’16 or before remain with the teams that picked them: Aaron Rodgers, Matt Ryan and Ben Roethlisberger.

Chris Burke@ChrisBurkeNFL
Per league source, the Lions had seven or eight teams in the bidding, all with first-round picks on the table. They viewed the Rams’ offer as far and away the best one.

Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
By trading for Matthew Stafford, the Rams are currently without a first-round pick thru 2023. Since the blockbuster Jalen Ramsey trade, they have leaned all the way in on bringing core starters in via trade, then drafting and developing in rds 2-6 to fill out starting roster.

The impression that I have gotten is that because the Rams believe they will stay competitive enough to be drafting late-first yr/yr, they don’t see that pick as more valuable than a proven starter (Ramsey, Stafford). And, they don’t see a ton of difference between low-1, high-2.

Jeremy Fowler@JFowlerESPN
What I know after reporting Stafford-Rams out the last few days:

Stafford wanted this, the chance to maximize talent with McVay

Rams determined but knew Goff’s deal was only major hurdle.

Goff was ready for new start, was railroaded by Rams, eager to remind what he can do.

Mike Golic Jr@mikegolicjr
In 2020..

% of plays with motion at or before snap:
-Rams 7th … Lions 20th

Play Action %:
-Rams 5th … Lions 21st

% of Receiving Yards after the Catch:
-Rams 2nd … Lions 24th

% of drop backs with 7+ blockers:
-Rams 1st … Lions 21st

Are the Rams a viable option for Stafford? https://t.co/Pt0xVTcDhY

— RamsNewsNow (@RamsNewsNow) January 30, 2021

In a 2018 Facebook post, Marjorie Taylor Greene blamed California wildfires on a secret Jewish space laser https://t.co/AFznUzvx1P

— New York Magazine (@NYMag) January 28, 2021

Zooey wrote:

So…is this related to the coaches leaving?

Because…if it is…we in trouble.

I will say I wondered about that.

The impression I get is that he’s a bit of a control freak. Head coaches need to delegate, I think.

Zooey wrote:

it seems to me that if McVay is a dick, we would have heard about it before

We have.

There’s been all sorts of signs of that.