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Woah. Matthew Stafford will not be heading to the San Francisco 49ers. That’s despite the rampant speculation and odds-on likelihood from Las Vegas oddsmakers. But, Stafford will be heading to the NFC West. After it was reported by ESPN that the Rams were considering a move for Stafford, that became reality on Saturday night.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Rams will trade Jared Goff, two future first-round picks and a third-round pick for Stafford. That quite easily explains why the Rams got the deal done ahead of any other suitors like the 49ers.
Detroit is dealing QB Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for two future first-round picks, a third-round pick and QB Jared Goff, per sources. Two former No. 1 overall picks trading places in the first blockbuster NFL trade of 2021.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 31, 2021
Here are the details of the trade per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero:
The full blockbuster trade involving two former No. 1 overall draft picks …#Lions get:
QB Jared Goff
3rd-round pick in 2021
1st-round pick in 2022
1st-round pick in 2023#Rams get:QB Matthew Stafford
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 31, 2021
This all comes after the Rams repeatedly declined to confirm Jared Goff, the former No. 1 overall pick (so was Stafford). General manager Les Snead had said Goff was the quarterback for now, which was brutally true.
Per OverTheCap, the Rams will have to eat $22.2 million in dead cap space in the trade and by acquiring Stafford, 33, who will have a $20 million salary, will lose more than $7 million in cap space. Currently, at OTC’s projection of a $181 million cap, the Rams are projected to be nearly $40 million over the salary cap. Expect the team to make more trades, restructures, extensions, and/or roster cuts.
Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the inclusion of Goff in the deal cost the Rams more than the six other suitors (who reportedly included the 49ers).
The #Lions had more than 6 offers, including a few worth more than a 1st round pick. But Detroit taking on #Rams QB Jared Goff cost LA more. So it ends up as two future 1st rounders and more thanks to Goff’s contract.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 31, 2021
