Stafford traded to the Rams for Goff + a bunch of draft picks

[Matt]

Lions fans should be dancing in the streets over this deal.

[Motown322]

I wonder if any viable path would've existed to get Deshaun Watson here? More expensive than Goff but much better player.

Watson has to approve any trade which immediately rules out Detroit.

[Matt]

From the Athletic:

Having said that, it’s hard to look at this trade from the Lions’ perspective and conclude that they didn’t maximize compensation for Stafford.

They gave the Lions an A and the Rams a C. Again, the Lions made a great deal.

[Matt]

Was that a Detroit writer from the Athletic or someone else? Just curious.

Thanks, Motown, for the info regarding Watson! Now I see why a lot of folks believe he'll land in New England.

Looks like a national guy: https://theathletic.com/author/sheil-kapadia/

[moldyoldie]

I'm fairly giddy about the trade, if for no other reason than getting Goff precludes the absolute necessity of drafting a QB in the first round this year. Unless "our guy" is there picking at #7, you can just take the best player available regardless of position. The draft capital acquired in future years lends a great deal of flexibility, allowing a clear assessment of needs this year.

[moldyoldie]

Goff won't be the guy that leads the Lions to the promised land, though, in my opinion. His past two seasons were not good. See the article at freep.com.

The "promised land" is so far off I hardly think it matters. Goff is a former first overall pick who has played in a Super Bowl. He's also only 26 years old. How he holds up on a much less talented team without the likes of a Todd Gurley running the ball will go a long way in determining his long-term value to the Lions.

[Matt]

Stafford didn't want to go to New England. He must really hate fat Matt Patricia.

[bmw]

At the end of the day, Detroit needed a QB to replace Stafford, and I think Goff is probably as good as they were going to get. Tack on 2 first round draft picks (and even a 3rd rounder this year) and I really, really like this deal.

I still wonder if they have other plans for those future picks to be traded for something else this season. Like, some veteran defensive players.

[MotorCityRadioFreak]

Regarding Deshaun Watson, the Texans' GM already said he doesn't want to trade him even Watson wants out. Could this be posturing to get better trade value? Possibly, but I don't know. As a Texans fan, I am just happy O'Brien is no longer in the mix. Watson is young enough where they can rebuild around him, but they have to put big pieces around him to show they want to win again.