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Lindsey ThiryESPN
Quarterback Jared Goff says he is ready to move on following a highly successful deal that traded him from the Los Angeles Rams to the Detroit Lions.
“As a quarterback, as the guy who is probably in the most important position on the field, if you are in a place that is not wanted and they want to leave you, the feeling is mutual,” Goff told the Los Angeles Times. “You don’t want to be in the wrong place. It has become increasingly clear that this was the case.”
On Saturday, the Rams traded Goff, along with two first-round picks and one third-round pick, for Lions in exchange for quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Goff, the No. 1 choice in the 2016 draft, told the Los Angeles Times that he was unsure when the Rams decided he would not be part of their future.
“That’s the hard part now is trying to figure it out, when did it happen?” Said Goff. “These are all the conversations I can have or not, and I try to find out. This is the conversation to have.”
After a loss at the end of the season to the Green Bay Packers in a split playoff game, Rams coach Sean McVay was asked if Goff was the defender. “Yes, he’s our quarterback now,” said McVay.
Ten days later, Rams general manager Les Snead did not commit to Goff’s long-term future with the team during a video conference, telling reporters, “Jared Goff is a Ram now. So, what’s the date? January 26th. “
Neither the Rams nor the Lions can comment publicly on the deal until it is official at the start of the new league year on March 17.
After McVay’s arrival in 2017, Goff led Rams to consecutive division titles, an NFC championship and a Super Bowl LIII participation, earning twice the Pro Bowl recognition.
Prior to the 2019 season, Goff signed a $ 134 million four-year extension that secured $ 110 million.
However, the attack receded in 2019 and continued its decline last season, despite a 10-6 result and a wild card playoff victory. Goff ended his last season in LA with 3,952 yards and 20 touchdowns with 13 interceptions.
In four seasons with McVay, Goff has accumulated 42 wins, tied with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and second only to Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady.
But since 2019, Goff ranks second in the NFL with 38 turnovers.
After the exchange, Goff said he overcame an initial feeling of disappointment and was excited after contacting the Lions team, which includes general manager Brad Holmes, the former scouting director of the Rams’ college who had a voice in the selection. of Goff.
“You start to feel, I don’t mean ‘relief’ is the right word, but you start to feel happy, thankful, ready for a new opportunity,” said Goff. “This is the biggest feeling I was overcome with that night, and even in the days that followed.”
After playing five seasons in LA, Goff said he would not let a disappointing ending tarnish his memories.
“Obviously, the ending was not favorable and it was not fun,” said Goff. “But they recruited me for first place overall and brought me to a city that hadn’t had a football team in a long time, being part of that reconstruction after 2016, being able to help bring LA football back to prominence , all of these things that I am very proud of. It is something I will always remember. “