During a recent discussion about the trade speculation surrounding his contract renewal with the Los Angeles Rams, quarterback Matthew Stafford shared insights into the events leading up to his 2021 trade from the Detroit Lions to the Los Angeles Rams. On the “New Heights” podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce, Stafford casually mentioned spending considerable time on Zillow, searching for properties in Indianapolis.
What If The Los Angeles Rams Missed On Matthew Stafford’s Trade
This revelation adds an intriguing layer to what appeared to be a carefully orchestrated agreement between the Rams and the Lions. The trade, which ultimately sent Stafford to Los Angeles, also allowed the Rams to offload Jared Goff’s contract by including two first-round picks in the deal.
The final trade terms—two first-round picks, a third-round pick, and Goff for Stafford—initially seemed heavily skewed in the Lions’ favor, especially considering Goff’s subsequent resurgence in Detroit. However, from the Rams’ perspective, the deal was a necessary move to alleviate themselves of Goff’s substantial guaranteed contract. Without a quarterback-for-quarterback exchange, the Rams would have publicly acknowledged their misjudgment in extending Goff’s contract. The Lions, needing a quarterback to replace Stafford, welcomed Goff, as it sweetened the trade package.
The revelation that the Indianapolis Colts were also in the mix is noteworthy. It had been widely believed that the Lions, with newly appointed general manager Brad Holmes (formerly of the Rams), and the Rams had discreetly negotiated the trade, effectively limiting other teams’ involvement. The Washington Commanders, for instance, expressed their frustration at being excluded from the process, which led them to contact every NFL team the following year to inquire about their starting quarterbacks, including the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Colts’ involvement adds a “what if” scenario to their post-Andrew Luck era, which has been marked by inconsistent quarterback solutions. The thought of potentially acquiring Stafford is likely a source of both fascination and regret for Colts fans.
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