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Once in a great while, a trade comes along that winds up being a home run for both sides.
The deal that landed Matthew Stafford in La-La-Land qualifies.
It didn’t seem that way at first. The Los Angeles Rams had soured on Jared Goff despite a Super Bowl run in 2018—so much so that the Rams were willing to offer a third-rounder in 2021 and first-rounders in both 2022 and 2023 just to get out from under Goff’s contract and upgrade under center.
For the Rams, it was a classic Les Snead “win now” move. For the perennially rebuilding Lions, it was an opportunity to stockpile draft capital and get younger (and cheaper) under center—even it if came at the expense of dealing arguably the best quarterback in franchise history.
In the early-going, this was a trade that clearly favored the Rams—in his first season in Los Angeles, Stafford led the team to their first Super Bowl win. The gamble paid off right out of the gate–and no matter what happens from there, that can’t be discounted.
Since then though, the pendulum has swung. The previously durable Stafford has missed substantial time with injuries. Goff has resurrected his career, playing a big part in Detroit’s resurgence under head coach Dan Campbell. While appearing on the Trading Cards podcast, Goff said the trade to Motown was the best thing that could have happened for his career.
“Being shipped off and being sent to a place to die, essentially, is what a lot of people think it was and I was never going to allow that to happen,” Goff said. “I’m fortunate enough to be around a lot of good coaches and players in Detroit that support me and help me reach my potential.”
It’s not just Goff, either. The Lions used the picks obtained from L.A. (after some more machinations) to add a number of players, including wide receiver Jameson Williams, tight end Sam LaPorta and running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Detroit may well now have the best roster in the NFC.
Both the Rams and the Lions made the postseason last year, with Detroit coming one game away from the team’s first Super Bowl.
Make that final step, and this trade will be a massive win for both sides.
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