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LOS ANGELES (AP) – The Detroit Lions trade 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 told the current of the matter to the Associated Press. .
The person spoke on condition of anonymity on Saturday night as the deal was not reached. ESPN first announced the trade, which will include the Rams’ first-round picks in 2022 and 2023, as well as their third-round pick this year.
The successful trade of two starting quarterbacks and former No. 1 draft picks will provide a change of scenery for two players who likely need it.
Stafford asked to be traded shortly after the current season ended with the Lions’ third consecutive double-digit loss record. He was one of the NFL’s most prolific passers-by during his 12-year career spent entirely in Detroit, but 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 secured their third place in the playoffs and posted their fourth straight winning streak in their 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 more years on a five-year, $ 135 million contract.
The Lions had several offers for Stafford, and they all included first-round picks, according to another person with first-hand knowledge of the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because those details were not released.
Stafford was made aware of the teams that wanted to acquire him, and the Rams were one of the franchises he was excited to potentially join, according to the person.
Stafford is new to the Rams, but he already has friends and a place to stay on the West Coast: Stafford owns an estate in Newport Coast, and he’s a childhood friend and former high school teammate to the Dodgers ace. Clayton Kershaw.
The Rams did not immediately confirm the exchange, but their official Twitter account tweeted to Kershaw, asking, “Did you hear from an old friend today?”
The familiarity of the front offices of these two franchises likely contributed to the difficult affair: New Detroit general manager Brad Holmes just stepped down as director of varsity scouting for the Rams under Snead earlier this month.
Goff is set to start a four-year, $ 134 million contract with $ 110 million guaranteed – but just like longtime teammate Todd Gurley, he’s leaving the Rams before his massive contract extension even begins.
Goff has been a consistent winner since McVay’s arrival, but his strong propensity for 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 Rams’ most recent first-round pick in 2016. Snead has now traded his first pick or returned in seven straight drafts, taking bold steps to acquire veteran talent, including the All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
Stafford leaves an underdog Detroit and heads to sunny Los Angeles with a chance to take the helm of a team that could be a Super Bowl contender next season.
The Rams went 10-6 and beat NFC champion West Seattle in the playoffs before losing to Green Bay. Stafford also appears to be a marked improvement to the most important position for McVay, whose reputation as an attacking mastermind has taken several hits over the past two years, while Goff and a stagnant talent pool fought to execute his plans effectively.
Goff has often appeared to be an aspiring star in his first two seasons under McVay when the Rams placed first (2017) and second (2018) in the NFL in points scored, but he hasn’t built on that success. His 38 turnovers in the past two seasons are the second most important in the NFL, and the Rams’ inconsistent offense has been largely carried by his defense this season.
Goff had 3,952 yards and 20 touchdowns – his lowest total since his first year – with 13 interceptions and six fumbles lost in 15 games last season. He missed the regular season finale with a broken thumb, but returned to play in both of Los Angeles’ postseason games.
In the 2020 finals, Stafford broke the 45,000 yard mark in the 165th game of his career – the fewest games an NFL player needed to reach that total. He threw three touchdown passes in that game against Minnesota, bringing his career total to 282.
Like many of Stafford’s achievements in Detroit, they were marred by a loss as the Lions fell to last 5-11 for their third consecutive season of double-digit losses and his career record fell to 74-90- 1 in the regular season.
Shortly after last season Stafford asked to be traded and spared another rebuilding project.
The Lions have asked him to wait until they hire a new general manager and coach, but lure the Rams’ Holmes to lead the Detroit front office and give New Orleans Saints coach Brad Campbell a shot at t being a head coach again hasn’t changed his mind.
Detroit drafted the strong-armed Stafford out of Georgia in hopes they could end the Lions’ drought of just one playoff win since winning the 1957 NFL title.
Stafford went on to become one of the NFL’s most productive quarterbacks, but went 0-3 in the 2011, 2014 and 2016 playoffs.
Indianapolis, Washington and San Francisco were among several teams believed to have expressed serious interest in acquiring Stafford, who won their only Pro Bowl selection in 2014. Goff is a two-time Pro Bowl selection.
Staford was the AP’s Returning Player of the Year in 2011 after rebounding from an injury-delayed start to his career. He is No. 16 on the league’s all-time roster with 45,109 passing yards and 282 passing TDs.
Playing for a team that often lagged behind, he led 31 comebacks in the fourth quarter of his career and notched 38 wins with winning records.
Detroit drafted Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah last year, No. 3 overall, passing quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert through.
The Lions have the 7th pick overall this year, and now that they have a veteran quarterback, they can sign a player to improve on a hideous defense. The Detroit defense set franchise records allowing 519 points and 6,716 yards last season, shattering marks set by its team without a win in 2008 and ranking among the worst in league history.
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AP Sports editor Larry Lage of Detroit contributed to this report.
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More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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