:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68746404/1295063814.0.jpg)
Well, they somehow pulled it off.
The Los Angeles Rams are trading two first round picks, a third round pick, and Jared Goff to the Detroit Lions in exchange for quarterback Matthew Stafford, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Rams do not have a first round pick in 2021, so it seems that they have dealt their first rounders in 2022 and 2023.
The trade cannot become “official” until March, but this looks like it is done.
Let the wait to pick in the first round, continue...
Detroit is dealing QB Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for two future first-round picks, a third-round pick and QB Jared Goff, per sources. Two former No. 1 overall picks trading places in the first blockbuster NFL trade of 2021.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 31, 2021
Stafford and the Lions opted to part ways immediately after the season. When Detroit hired Brad Holmes out of the Rams organization to be their next general manager, it seems that set off a series of dominoes that has resulted in this monumental trade news. Goff was the first overall pick in 2016 — seven years after Stafford was the number one pick — and went to Pro Bowls in his first two seasons under Sean McVay.
But he began to show signs of decline in late 2018 and has never recovered.
Now we get to see what McVay can do with Stafford.
Stafford dealt with injuries issues early in his career but then didn’t miss a start between 2011 and 2018. Then broken bones in Stafford’s back caused him to miss eight games in 2019, but he played a full season in 2020 and threw for 4,084 yards and 26 touchdowns with 10 interceptions.
It will be interesting to see what he does in the Rams offense next season.