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The Panthers were among several teams competing for Matthew Stafford before the Lions agreed to trade him with the Rams, but the reports of what the Panthers were offering are telling.
Carolina offered her choice of the first round this year, the eighth overall position and more, according to Albert Breer of SI.com and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
With such an offer, it is surprising that Lions would accept the Rams’ offer of a choice of the third round in 2021, a choice of the first round in 2022, a choice of the first round in 2023 and Jared Goff. The Rams’ choices in 2022 and 2023 are likely to occur later in the first round than the eighth overall position, and teams almost always prioritize having choices this year rather than the future. In fact, if Lions really wanted first-round choices in the coming years, they could have succeeded by switching to Panthers ‘No. 8 overall choice, as well as Lions’ overall No. 7 choice.
The Rams were eager to get rid of the Goff contract, and Lions general manager Brad Holmes, who was with the Rams during Goff’s term, may like him enough to see him, even with his expensive salary cap reaching next two seasons, as a positive asset. But with a choice in the top 10 in 2021 being offered, it is surprising that Lions have preferred the Goff and Rams choice package.