The Los Angeles Rams made headlines with their blockbuster trade for quarterback Matthew Stafford in exchange for quarterback Jared Goff and a package of picks.
The move has helped turn the Rams into a Super Bowl favorite leading up to the 2021 NFL season. Meanwhile, many have pegged Goff as a bridge quarterback to help the Lions get through a full-fledged rebuild.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes is all too familiar with Goff’s career up to this point. After all, he had served as the director of college scouting in L.A. when they selected Goff with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Holmes’ connection to general manager Les Snead seemingly gave him first dibs on the situation with Goff. It appears Snead had his fair share of suitors that see him as a viable option under center, via Tim Twentyman of the team’s official website:
“Before the trade, I remember (Rams GM) Les (Snead) asked me if I wanted Jared and I said, ‘Yes, I do want Jared.’ He said, ‘Ok, I’m just asking because I’m getting a lot of calls.’ Within that QB circle of teams that needed one, Jared was sought after, just as Carson Wentz was sought after, just as Sam Darnold was sought after. That Stafford (was sought after).
“I never viewed (Goff) as a bridge option. He’s been a winning quarterback. His resume speaks for itself. Since he’s been a full-time starter he’s not been to the playoffs one time (2019).”
It is safe to say that the deal was hardly a shot in the dark for Holmes. He got to see Goff’s development firsthand from a rookie labeled as a bust to a Pro Bowl quarterback leading the Rams to Super Bowl.
Holmes’ relationship with Snead also made him privy to the intimate details of Goff’s situation and potential fit in Detroit. His comments indicate that he still sees him as a viable franchise quarterback to build around.
Not to mention, the Lions got quite a haul in exchange for Stafford in the form of two first-round picks. Such valuable draft capital should help kickstart their rebuild by bringing in some more potential franchise players in the coming years.
It will be interesting to see if Holmes uses these picks as part of their efforts to surround Goff with some more weapons on offense. This will be a strong indicator of whether or not the Lions view him as a long-term option.
