Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams swap quarterbacks in a blockbuster trade

The Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams pulled off the first major trade of the 2021 offseason. The Lions shipped quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Rams in exchange for Jared Goff, a 2021 third-round pick, and 2022, 2023 first-round picks, as first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Full terms of the deal: It’s Matthew Stafford to the #Rams for 2 1st rounders and a 3rd rounder, along with Jared Goff. — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 31, 2021

To further the trade details, NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero added that the Rams will inherit Stafford’s remaining two-year $43 million. The Lions will carry a dead cap of $17.8 million in 2021. The Lions will inherit Goff’s four-year, $106 million deal that he signed back in 2019. The Rams will also carry a $22.2 million in dead cap hit in 2021.

Jared Goff has $43 million in fully guaranteed money left on that deal — $25M in base salary in 2021, a $2.5M roster bonus due on the 2nd day of the 2021 league year in March and another $15.5M roster bonus due on the 2nd day of the 2022 league year. — Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 31, 2021

With the trade, the Rams will not have a first-round pick until the 2024 offseason. In 2016, they traded two first-round picks to the Tennessee Titans for the number one pick that led the Rams to take Goff over Carson Wentz.

Both Rapoport and Pelissero mentioned that the Lions had multiple offers for Stafford that were worth more than a first-round pick, but the Lions liked the Rams deal. Both the Lions and Rams will play each other in the 2021 season in Los Angeles.

Stafford finishes his Lions career with 3,898 of 6,224 completions for 45,109 yards and 282 touchdowns, which ranks him first in Lions history. Jared Goff leaves the Rams ranked fourth all-time in career passing with 1,536 out of 2,421 completions for 18,171 yards and 107 touchdowns.

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