Assessing the Detroit Lions trade by Matthew Stafford

Detroit Lions made everyone’s Saturday night a little more interesting. A highly successful negotiation that sent Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams for two future choices in the first round, a choice in the third round in 2021 and Jared Goff was a business that many were not anticipating. As soon as news broke that Stafford had asked to leave Detroit, most were speculating that Detroit might choose a choice in the first round and perhaps a little more.

The inclusion of Jared Goff and his contract will be the point of debate of his contract, as without him it is an easy victory for Lions. A 33-year-old Stafford for two choices in the first round is a steal.

But it seems unlikely that Lions would have this agreement under discussion anywhere else, even if there are reports that Detroit declined some other very significant options. Instead, they ate a serious salary cap for the next two seasons for a young defender whose career has collapsed in the past two years due to the extra raise in the draft capital.

So today’s question is:

How do you rate Matthew Stafford’s Lions negotiation?

My answer: I think this trade is a solid B +.

While not ideal for taking on Goff’s bloated contract, there has to be a push and pull when you’re bringing two first-round choices to an aging quarterback. Goff’s contract only hurts Lions for the next two seasons, and it is unlikely that they will compete a lot in those years, anyway.

In the meantime, Lions get a little immediate recruitment compensation this year with a choice in the third round, and they get a useful quarterback to bridge the gap between now and whoever the team chooses as their next franchise passer. There might even be a little bit of a belief that Goff could be that guy, but I’m not buying it right now.

When 2023 arrives, Lions are likely to be free from Goff, with no implications of a salary cap other than a lack of accumulated money, and they will be chosen in the second round of the richest. I will accept this for a team that needed a complete reconstruction.