Report: Lions trade Stafford to Rams for Goff, two 1st-rounders
The Detroit Lions are trading star quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams for signal-caller Jared Goff, two future first-round picks, and a third-round selection, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
L.A. will send its 2022 and 2023 first-round selection as well as its third-round pick from the 2021 draft.
The trade cannot become official until the start of the league year on March 17.
Stafford, 32, 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.
The Lions and Stafford go their separate ways after 12 years. He leaves as the franchise's all-time leader in virtually every passing statistic: yards (45,109), touchdowns (282), (6,224) attempts, and (3,898) completions. Detroit selected the Georgia product first overall in 2009.
Goff, 26, 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 and $43 million remaining on Stafford's 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 Lions will visit the Rams during the 2021 regular season, according to ESPN's Field Yates.