Review of Matthew Stafford’s trade by the Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions made everyone’s Saturday night a little more interesting. A blockbuster that sent Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams for two future first round picks, a third round for 2021 and Jared Goff was a deal not many people had predicted. As soon as the news came that Stafford had asked his way out of Detroit, most speculated that Detroit might make it to a first lap and maybe some more.

The inclusion of Jared Goff and his contract will be the point of discussion in his contract as without him it’s an easy win for the Lions. A 33-year-old Stafford for two first round picks is a steal.

But it seems unlikely that the Lions had that deal on the table elsewhere, even though Detroit has been reported rejected some other pretty important options. Instead, they ate a serious salary cap for the next two seasons for a young quarterback whose career has collapsed over the past two years due to the extra bump in design capital.

So today’s question is:

What grade do you give Matthew Stafford’s lion trade?

My answer: I think this transaction is a solid B +.

While it’s not ideal for tackling Goff’s bloated contract, there has to be a push and a pull when you bring in two first-round picks for an aging quarterback. Goff’s contract only hurts the Lions for the next two seasons, and they’re unlikely to compete for much in those years anyway.

In the meantime, this year the Lions get a small immediate draft fee with a third round pick, and they get a usable quarterback to bridge the gap between now and whoever the team chooses as their next franchise passer. Maybe there’s even a little belief that Goff could be that guy, but I don’t personally believe that now.

By the time 2023 rolls around, the Lions will likely be Goff-free with no salary cap implications other than the lack of rolled-over money, and will be two first-round picks richer. I absolutely assume that for a team that needed a full rebuild.