The Rams made arguably the most influential move this offseason by trading quarterback Jared Goff, for 1x Pro Bowl QB Matthew Stafford. The trade cost the Rams: the 2021 third-round pick, the 2022 first-round pick, the 2023 first-round pick, and of course, Jared Goff. While playing on a far less successful team, Stafford surpassed Goff, throwing for a total of 4,084 yards and 26 touchdowns.
This isn’t the first time Detroit has lost players due to their ability to be consistently unsuccessful. Stafford was a prodigy coming out of The University of Georgia who floundered in Detroit on a losing team. Since being drafted in 2009, he was sacked 385 times, unprotected by an offensive line that repeatedly failed him. The only glimpse of his ability fans have gotten to witness was during a brief stint with Calvin Johnson, who retired early because he too, couldn’t bear playing for the Lions anymore. This is a pattern that has been repeated numerous times in Detroit. Perhaps, the greatest running back in NFL history, Barry Sanders, cut his career in half because he too played for a dysfunctional team. Just like for Stafford, the Lions failed to forge a Super Bowl-ready team that Sanders’ needed to win.
Stafford isn’t just joining the Rams. He’s joining Aaron Donald, whom Stafford personally describes as an “offensive nightmare.” Donald is the best defensive player in the NFL and possibly the best player. To line up against him is to fear him. Stafford told NFL Total Access he was excited to finally be wearing the same jersey as Donald. This brings an end to the list of times Stafford has been sacked by Donald. He no longer needs to carry the weight of his entire team on his shoulders; he has Aaron Donald, a dominating force feared by quarterbacks. Fans are finally treated with the opportunity of witnessing Stafford reach his full potential in Los Angeles with an upgraded offensive line.
Tom Brady, Nick Foles, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees are the only four quarterbacks of the last 18 years to win Super Bowls with teams that didn’t draft them. Matthew Stafford could be the fifth name to add to that historic list. The 2022 Super Bowl LVI is being held at the brand new state of the art, SOFI Stadium, the Rams home turf. Stafford finally has the supporting cast he needs to take the Rams to the Promised Land.
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