The Rams paying up for Matthew Stafford led to numerous quarterback dominoes falling this offseason. Stafford is close to debuting with the Rams, who are among the NFC frontrunners, but he would have been fine being traded to two other teams earlier this year.
After Stafford asked the Lions to trade him in January, he listed the 49ers and Colts — in that order — behind the Rams on his destination wish list, according to Seth Wickersham of ESPN.com. Both teams entered the sweepstakes, with Kyle Shanahan confirming the 49ers’ interest, but neither’s offer approached the Rams’ proposal of two future first-rounders and change.
The Colts discussed Stafford with the Lions but were a bit leery about the 33-year-old passer’s long-term trajectory. They are not believed to have offered their 2021 first-round pick for the 12-year veteran. Indianapolis ended up sending Philadelphia a 2021 third-rounder and a 2022 pick that could well become a first for Carson Wentz. The 49ers were not believed to have been one of the six-plus teams to submit offers for Stafford, though Shanahan studied the QB while he was on the trade block and expressed disappointment upon learning the Rams acquired him. San Francisco then traded two future firsts and change to move up to No. 3 overall for Trey Lance.
Stafford also said there were teams he wanted to avoid. The Patriots are believed to be one, and Wickersham adds the Panthers were another. Carolina did offer its first-round pick — No. 8 overall — along with Teddy Bridgewater and a fifth-rounder. Carolina’s involvement here eventually led to Bridgewater being traded to another unsuccessful Stafford suitor — Denver — and Sam Darnold going to the Panthers. The Rams acquiring Stafford also led Washington, which offered its first-round pick as well, to move elsewhere. The Lions-Rams deal certainly served as the 2021 offseason’s pivot point.
Although Stafford did not have a no-trade clause, the Lions accommodated him after a lengthy January meeting when he asked to be dealt. Stafford initially went to Lions ownership about the trade request, Wickersham adds, noting that the team execs in that meeting were surprised but understood the veteran passer’s position as another rebuild approached.
My wife was unfortunately on my neighbor’s destination list
Is Lester holt coming to your neighborhood as well for investigative interviews………?
the video is crazy! she’s a screamer!
Sprinkler system?
The Detroit GM did his buddy in LA a favor. The Lions will stink for the next four years because of it.
Two years of Goff + Two first round draft picks? Sounds good to me. Especially if Goff can bounce back now that he has an o-line again.
As a lifelong Lions fan, what’s another 4 years? It’s not like we were going anywhere anyways. At least Stafford is gets to try for a ring.
Two firsts was about the most they could hope for. To get a young-ish QB in Goff who at least showed some promise at some point in his career is just a sweetner. What was the other option? Refuse to trade him and alienate another franchise legend?
Who cares? He’s on the Rams now lol
The Rams are at the front the NFC? Who knew.
that wasnt a given before they upgraded at QB.
I always enjoy hearing how Goff didn’t take his team to the SB, the coach did. Then on the flip side, it wasn’t Matt’s fault at all he never won a playoff game, it was the coaching staff.
That Colts or 49ers team would be scary if Stafford went there… im sure the Rams will be as scary if not scarier dependent on how Stafford starts things off.
So did Matt want to avoid the Patriots because they had this bad habit of winning championships or because he wasn’t very good at intentionally deflating footballs?
I’m gonna guess it’s because Matt Patricia went back to the Patriots. Dude pissed off a lot of players.
Patricia is back with the Patriots but I don’t think he will be interacting much with players. Belichick just wanted someone familiar around who could keep his pencils sharp.