After a couple weeks of rumors surrounding the fractured relationship between Jared Goff and Sean McVay, the Los Angeles Rams took action, trading Goff and three draft picks to the Detroit Lions in exchange for Matthew Stafford.
Although Stafford is six years older than Goff, he does serve as an immediate improvement for a team that is now firmly in Super Bowl contention. It also saves the Rams from what would have been an awkward training camp between Goff and the coaching staff, as it became clear towards the end of the season that they no longer had faith in him to lead the offense.
Goff — who will now be the starter for a rebuilding Lions team — says he has no idea when the Rams stopped trusting him, but that it’s a conversation he wouldn’t mind having, according to Sam Farmer of The L.A. Times:
“That’s the tough part right now is trying to figure that out, when did that happen?” he said. “Those are all conversations that I may or may not have, and try to figure it out. That’s the conversation to have.”
Asked if it is strange that he has yet to have that talk with the Rams, he said: “A little bit, yeah.”
While things don’t seem to be even remotely resolved between Goff and the Rams, it’s clear that the feeling was mutual. As much as the Rams had lost trust in Goff, he lost the joy he had playing for the Rams organization.
Despite all of that, the Rams found themselves in the divisional round, just two wins away from the Super Bowl. This trade serves as a win-win for all parties involved for that exact reason.
The Rams get a quarterback that they trust and that has all the tools to turn their offense around, the Lions get draft picks and a young quarterback they can continue to develop, and Goff gets a fresh start in a place that clearly appreciates his talents.
Stafford could recruit free agents to L.A.
Shortly after the trade was announced, it was revealed that Stafford may have a Tom Brady-esque effect on the Rams’ free-agent options. Reportedly, several free agents have already reached out to Stafford expressing their desire to play with him on the Rams.
One of those free agents is former Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr., who would be an absolutely perfect fit alongside Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp on the team’s receiving corps.
