Brock’s Random Thoughts: The Matt Stafford Trade

Well, Matthew Stafford got the trade he was looking for.  And he's going to a legitimate Super Bowl contender for the 2021 season, the Los Angeles Rams.

What did your gridiron heroes (the Detroit Lions) get in return??  A 3rd round pick in this spring's NFL Draft and a 1st round pick in 2022 & 2023.  I like those picks they got, as long as they hit on those in the coming drafts.

What else did they get?  Another former number 1 overall pick who has regressed in recent years, QB Jared Goff (pictured).  Ugh!!!!!!

I know Goff was the Rams QB when they went to the Super Bowl in 2018.  But that was more of a product of the Rams great defense (led by the awesome Aaron Donald) and the terrific coaching of Sean McVay.

I don't think they solved their QB problem at all, because I don't think Goff can play. McVay and the Rams management figured that out and shipped him to the NFL's Siberia, the Detroit Lions.

And the Lions are stuck with Goff for at least the 2021 season.  His cap number for 2021 is nearly $28 million (with a dead cap hit of over $43 million).  His cap number for 2022 is $25.5 million (with a dead cap hit of $15 million).  That's according to spotrac.com/nfl.

If I thought Goff could play, I'd really like this trade (and I do like the draft picks they got).  But I'm dubious because I don't think Goff can play.  And the Lions still need to draft a QB either this spring or in 2022.

I think it's a step down talentwise for the Lions in the short-term.  Matt Stafford is the best QB the Lions have had since Bobby Layne (his career numbers back up that claim).  The only way it turns out in favor of Detroit is if they can hit on the Draft in the next 2-3 drafts.  With the Lions track record of drafting, who knows??

And if I'm wrong about Goff, I'll be the first one to admit it.  I've been wrong many times before, just add it to the list.  But pardon me for being skeptical.

Enter your number to get our free mobile app