Jared Goff is reluctant to throw himself into Matthew Stafford’s profession.
“I’m just excited to be somewhere I know wants and appreciates me,” the Lions-bound Goff told NFL Network.
The Rams acquired Stafford for Goff, two first round picks and a third round pick. Goff will be the Rams starting quarterback for 2021 and maybe 2022 – cutting him then would result in a savings of $ 10 million in salary limits against $ 15 million dead cap space – before his contract is essentially year-to-year.
Goff’s words seem to indicate that he felt unwelcome and unappreciated with the Rams, despite signing a four-year, $ 134 million contract extension in September 2019, following a Super Bowl appearance. Both coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead offered only a mild vote of confidence to Goff after the season and before the exchange. NFL Network reported that people close to the situation said McVay and Goff needed “ marriage counseling. ”
How badly the Lions wanted Goff versus accepting him as a salary dump from Rams to get a second first round pick to the trading package is a topic of wide debate.
Speaking to new Lions coach Dan Campbell and several other members of the Lions staff on Saturday, Goff came away with the feeling “they are excited to have him” as their starter, according to an ESPN report.