Matthew Stafford Deserved Better. Now He’s Getting It.
Matthew Stafford has always been a polarizing figure in Detroit sports lore. Not sure why though. He’s a hell of a quarterback and a swell guy to boot. The fact that he lasted 12 seasons – longer than Barry, longer than Calvin – before finally saying “get me outta here” says all you need to know about his mental toughness, and an 8.5 season iron man streak checks the physical toughness boxes.
That being said, the divorce papers have officially been filed. My guy was traded this weekend to the L.A. Rams for QB Jared Goff, a 2021 3rd round pick, and 1st rounders in 2022 and 2023. It marks the first swap of players selected No. 1 overall in NFL history, and further signals that GM Brad Holmes, HC Dan Campbell, and the new regime are opting to rip out the carpet rather than using Spot Shot on the shit stain Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia left on the floor of Ford Field.
Here are an assortment of thoughts on the end of an era, and what this split means for the organization moving forward.
Also some tribute videos. Because he deserves ’em.
What say you, Stafford haters?
If you know me or have read any of my Lions observations over the lifetime of this site, you’ll know I’ve spent plenty of time trying to convert the Stafford haters. One consolation prize with this trade, along with the draft compensation, is that I won’t have to waste time, energy, and word count trying to do this any longer. If you still think he isn’t capable of quarterbacking a winning team there are a whole slew of organizations that disagree with you that feel they are a Stafford-caliber QB away from a Super Bowl and, at minimum, inquired about Stafford’s price tag.
There is a reason why the Stafford domino was the first to fall in what is expected to be an unprecedented offseason of quarterback movement. His skillset, leadership, and even contract (which made him the highest-paid QB in the NFL once upon a time) are all highly desirable even at this advanced stage of his career.
And of course, the burning question for the “he’s never won anything” crowd is why the Rams would trade their much younger QB that has done a whole lotta winning, even leading his team to a Super Bowl by the tender age of 25, for a guy that has never won a playoff game? Because people that know a lot more about football than you or I (but mostly you) think Matthew Stafford is one of the most underrated and underappreciated signal-callers in the league.
Now it’s up to him to prove the haters wrong.
#QBWinzAreNotAStat
Do me right
I find it fascinating that just one week after Stafford’s trade request went public the Lions found a way to send him to what was apparently his top destination. Stafford’s wife Kelly has been planting the seeds on The Gram for years now that Cali is where she preferred her man to end his career.
Whether the Lions did the Stafford family a solid or it was just a coincidence that the Rams put forth the most desirable trade package, this is a good PR move for the new regime and a welcome counter to the player unfriendly image the Lions had built themselves since ownership came for Calvin Johnson’s (unearned) contract bonus and Matt Patricia accused Darius Slay of blowing opposing receivers.
I love being from the area, but Detroit will rarely be an outsider’s top destination to work and play. But when potential free agents know they have a front office that will treat them right, it moves the destination meter ever so slightly in the right direction.
More of this, please.
Remember that one time Detroit and Kansas City met in a battle of unbeaten teams? Loudest I ever heard Ford Field. Good times. Yes, close losses count as good times round these parts. It’s a sad existence.
The trade grades are in…
…and none of them matter.
The Lions are getting favorable reviews across the sports media landscape for the haul of picks they got in return for Stafford.
The Athletic = A. Neat!
LionsWire = A-minus. Hot dog!
Mike Valenti = A+. Get right outta town!
I guess I need to get my hands on a 2023 big board in the No. 24-32 range. It must be loaded based on those grades.
Can we please stop doing this pointless exercise? The return on this trade could be a haul of assets. It also could be a haul of ass if this turns into the next failed regime in a long line of failed regimes. Let’s circle back in 2025 and grade this trade. Or don’t. That’s also an option.
Do you know what I’ve noticed in my crusade against instant draft and trade grading? That there are actually a lot of talking heads that agree with the premise of not being able to properly evaluate a transaction until we, um, know who the players are and if they are good at football. And d’ya know what? It doesn’t stop them from slapping a C+ at the end of their “I’m not a big fan of grades” speech.
Fine. Have it your way.
The Warm Grade = C+
That was kind of fun. Now I see why all the cool kids do it.
In all seriousness, I am satisfied with the return the Lions got in this deal, but a bit less enthusiastic than the masses. Now, part of that is my appreciation for Stafford, as I expected a hefty package for a guy as coveted as I knew Stafford would be. I am also conditioned for things not to go according to plan with this franchise, so I’ll get excited about the picks once they materialize into quality NFL players. But if this divorce was going to happen one way or another, these terms should be enough for the Lions to land on their feet once all is said and done.
One thing I do like is the fact that the Lions chose the asset package that included less high-end/immediate options (Carolina reportedly offered pick No. 8 in 2021, for instance), opting instead to take a deal that spread the picks across multiple years. This was smart for a variety of reasons and proves that Holmes and Campbell are taking a patient and measured approach to rebuilding this organization. Holmes in particular, with his background as director of college scouting in L.A., will have a much easier time hitting on his future first-rounders in a post-COVID world (that’s gonna be a thing, right?) rather than trying to project player development in the midst of the chaos and confusion that was 2020.
Mild concern: Detroit Patriots 2.0?
Remember how former GM Bob Quinn almost exclusively did all of his wheeling and dealing with his old pals up in Beantown?
I really hope a combination of all of the above factors is the reason Detroit chose L.A. as their trade partner and that it wasn’t simply Holmes’ familiarity with the Rams organization.
I don’t think this is the case. But, you know, QuinnTricia PTSD and all that.
Are we sure Goff ain’t the guy?
Pretty sure. But not entirely.
Goff is almost an afterthought in this trade. A really, really, ridiculously expensive afterthought. But Goff is interesting enough to warrant heading into 2021 with an open mind in terms of whether or not a change of scenery was all he needed to flip his career trajectory back in the right direction.
How can going from L.A. and Sean McVay to Detroit and Dan Campbell possibly lead to anything but further regression and an eventual release 1-2 years down the road? I mean, this is the more likely scenario, make no mistake about it. But there is an interesting piece by Mark Schofield of TouchdownWire that suggests there is still a No. 1 overall pick somewhere inside the guy that has a 42/29 TD:INT ratio the past two seasons (Stafford’s ratio in seven fewer games was 45/15, for comparison’s sake).
Schofield suggests that McVay’s admittedly great offensive scheme may have actually stunted Goff’s growth by holding his hand too much and stripping away his instincts, leading to indecision and hesitation whenever a play broke down or a pocket collapsed. It’s easy to see why McVay would be confident in Stafford’s ability to execute his offensive vision for the Rams, considering he has played for approximately 87 different head coaches and offensive coordinators in his career. He’ll be able to handle anything you throw at him.
If the Lions are to unlock the Goff that played his way into the top pick in the draft in 2016 they will likely have to tailor this offense to his strengths, rather than trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. The fact that Holmes just traded for Goff when so many other offers were reportedly on the table leads me to believe the QB he was so enamored with coming out of Cal still has something he hasn’t shown. Holmes is doubling down on his scouting eye giving it another go with the QB he campaigned trading up for in the 2016 draft. If Goff doesn’t flip the script on his narrative, this will simply be a cameo appearance for him in Honolulu Blue.
But I like the fact that Goff offers enough upside and intrigue to make not taking a QB with the No. 7 pick in 2021 a viable strategy. And if Goff stinks up the joint next season the Lions will be in an even more advantageous draft position in 2022 anyway.
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