The Detroit Lions are trading star quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams for two future first-round picks, a third-round selection, and quarterback Jared Goff, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Rams will send over their 2022 and 2023 first-round selection as well as their third-round pick from the 2021 NFL Draft.
The trade cannot become official until the start of the league year on March 17.
The 32-year-old requested a trade from the Lions following the 2020 season. Meanwhile, Los Angeles is parting with 2016 first overall pick Goff after not committing to him following the team’s divisional-round exit.
Stafford and the Lions go their separate ways after 12 years. Detroit selected the former Georgia product with the first overall selection in the 2009 NFL Draft.
Stafford leaves the Lions as the franchise’s all-time leader in virtually every passing statistic: Yards (45,109), touchdowns (282), (6,224) attempts, and (3,898) completions.
Meanwhile, Goff reunites with former Rams executive and Detroit’s new general manager Brad Holmes. The former Cal passer will also work under first-year head coach Dan Campbell next season.
Los Angeles will inherit the two years, $43 million remaining on Stafford’s current contract, while the Lions will carry a $17.8 million dead cap hit in 2021, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network.
Detroit will also take on Goff’s $106.6 million contract after he signed an extension in 2019.
Multiple teams reportedly offered first-round picks in the upcoming draft for Stafford, but the quarterback swap along with pick compensation provided both teams with the trade package they desired.
The two trade partners are scheduled to square off in the 2021 regular season, according to ESPN’s Field Yates.
