When the Rams sent Jared Goff to the Lions in the 2021 trade that landed them quarterback Matthew Stafford, hardly anyone blinked an eye. In fact, plenty wondered why Detroit would even bother with Goff at all; the Rams were making a clear upgrade, many posited, while the Lions were simply inheriting the necessary evil that was Goff’s contract, in order to facilitate the deal.
Two and a half seasons later, Stafford remains with the Rams, and Goff remains with the Lions. But the “winner” of their trade seems less clear. While Stafford’s addition instantly elevated Los Angeles’ offense in 2021, ultimately helping Sean McVay and Co. hoist the Lombardi Trophy, Goff now has Detroit positioned as one of the powers of the NFC, and his future in Motor City might be even more secure than that of Stafford on the West Coast.
Let’s revisit the deal that swapped the QBs, plus how Goff and Stafford have fared in total since landing in their new homes
