LOS ANGELES (AP) – The Detroit Lions are trading quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for quarterback Jared Goff, two future first-round picks and a third-round pick, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press. .
The person spoke on Saturday night on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been finalized. ESPN reported for the first time the exchange, which will include the Rams’ first round in 2022 and 2023, along with their third round this year.
The successful trading of two starting quarters and former number 1 overall draft pick will provide a change in nature for two players who are likely to need it.
Stafford asked to be traded shortly after the current season ended with the Lions losing their third double-digit record. He was one of the NFL’s most prolific passengers during his 12-year career who spent entirely in Detroit, but has never won a playoff game.
Meanwhile, the Rams’ coaching staff and front office have publicly expressed a clear loss of confidence in Goff in recent weeks, even after Los Angeles won its third playoff spot and set its fourth consecutive winning record during its four years under coach Sean McVay. Goff also led the Rams to the Super Bowl after the 2018 season.
Stafford, who turns 33 in February, has two years left on a $ 135 million five-year contract.
The Lions made several offers to Stafford, and they all included a first-round pick, according to another person with direct knowledge of the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because the details were not disclosed.
Stafford was made aware of the teams that wanted to acquire him, and the Rams were, according to the person, one of the franchises he might be excited about.
Stafford is new to the Rams, but he already has friends and a place to sleep on the West Coast: Stafford owns an estate in Newport Coast, and he’s a childhood friend and former high school teammate of Dodgers Ace Clayton Kershaw.
The Rams did not immediately confirm the deal, but their official Twitter account tweeted at Kershaw and asked him, “Did you hear from an old friend today?”
The familiarity of the offices of these two franchises has probably helped the difficult case: Brad Holmes, the new general manager of Detroit, had just left his position as the Rams’ director of reconnaissance under Snead earlier this month.
Goff is on the verge of starting a four-year, $ 134 million contract with $ 110 million guaranteed – but just like longtime teammate Todd Gurley, he is leaving the Rams before his huge contract extension begins.
Goff has been a steady winner since McVay’s arrival, but his huge trend of turnover and lack of improvement over the past two seasons has led McVay and general manager Les Snead to talk openly about a future without Goff in recent weeks.
Goff was the most recent pick in the first round the Rams made in 2016. Snead has now swapped his top picks or moved back in seven consecutive pulls, and he has ventured to acquire the veteran talent, including All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
Stafford leaves Detroit and leaves for sunny Los Angeles with the chance to take control of a team that could be a Super Bowl candidate next season.
The Rams won 10-6 and beat NFC West champion Seattle in the playoffs before losing at Green Bay. Stafford also appears to be a clear upgrade for the key position for McVay, whose reputation as an attacking mastermind has cost several hits over the past two years, while Goff and a stagnant skill set have struggled to execute his schemes effectively.
Goff regularly appears to be a budding star in his first two seasons under McVay when the Rams scored first place (2017) and second (2018) in the NFL in points, but he did not build on that. His 38 turnovers over the past two seasons are the second most in the NFL, and the Rams’ conflicting offense has been largely borne by his defense this season.
Goff hit 3,952 yards and 20 touchdowns – his lowest total since his rookie year – with 13 interceptions and six fumbles lost during 15 games last season. He missed the final season with a broken thumb, but returned to play in both of Los Angeles’ post-season games.
During the 2020 final, Stafford surpassed the 45,000-yard point in the 165th game of his career – the fewest games an NFL player needs to reach the total. He threw three times in the game against Minnesota, raising his career total to 282.
Like many of Stafford’s performances in Detroit, they were marred by a loss as the Lions last fell to 5-11 for their third double-digit losing season in a row and his career record dropped to 74-90-1 in the regular season.
Shortly after last season, Stafford asked to be traded and saved from another rebuilding project.
The Lions asked him to wait until they appoint a new general manager and coach, but to lure Holmes from the Rams to run Detroit’s front office and give New Orleans Saints coach Brad Campbell a chance to coach again. has not changed. mind.
Detroit drafted the heavily armed Stafford from Georgia in the hope that he could end the Lions’ drought in just one playoff game since winning the NFL title in 1957.
Stafford became one of the NFL’s most productive backs, but in the post-seasons 2011, 2014 and 2016, he was 0-3.
Indianapolis, Washington and San Francisco were among several teams that reportedly showed serious interest in acquiring Stafford, who earned his only Pro Bowl pick in 2014. Goff is a two-time Pro Bowl pick.
Staford was AP’s Comeback Player of the Year in 2011 after bouncing back from an injury he started in his career. He is number 16 on the everyday list of the league with 45 109 meters over and 282 strokes.
When he played for a team that was regularly behind, he led 31 returns in the fourth quarter of his career and scored 38 wins with a game-changing streak.
Detroit named Ohio cornerback Jeff Okudah last year as No. 3 and transferred backs Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert.
The Lions have the No. 7 pick this year, and now that they have a veteran full-back, they can set up a player to improve an awful defense. The Detroit defense has set franchise records this past season by allowing 519 points and 6,716 yards. It broke the points his unbeaten team put up in 2008 and scored one of the worst in the league.
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AP Sports writer Larry Lage in Detroit contributed to this report.
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