Giving up longtime franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford was bound to have a short-term negative impact on Detroit Lions. This is part of the reconstruction project plan developed by the new GM Brad Holmes and his team.
So far in this off-season, no NFL team has cost itself more of an impact on the winning streak than the Lions, by agreeing to trade Stafford for Rams for QB Jared Goff. The compensation project that will reach Detroit in the business does not yet take into account the Pro Football Focus “win over substitution” assessment for the product in the field.
The Rams top the list of the most improved in terms of adding WAR, almost entirely in the form of Stafford taking over from Goff in Sean McVay’s attack. Lions are at the other end of the list.
It will be interesting to revisit WAR additions / subtractions as soon as the free agency starts on March 17th. We expect Lions to make some positive additions to make up for the massive loss of Stafford and the free agent wide receivers who are also expected to leave.