The Detroit Lions dominated the late-night headlines on Saturday with reports indicating the Motor City has struck a deal with the Los Angeles Rams for their longtime franchise quarterback, Matthew Stafford.
In exchange for trading away the Lions’ near 33-year old passer, the Rams forked over two future first-round draft picks in 2022 and 2023, a third-round selection in this year’s draft, and quarterback Jared Goff.
Accompanying Goff, who was the number one overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, is a massive contract that has him making $43.25 million in fully-guaranteed payments over the next two years. That according to Pro Football Talk.
Lost in the mayhem on Saturday night was the fact the Lions will officially move on from Stafford, the man who has represented their team since 2009 and will go down as one of the greatest players to ever wear Honolulu blue and silver.
As you can imagine, social media exploded following the reports of Stafford’s impending departure. And all in exchange for a two-time Pro Bowler in Goff plus an impressive draft haul that had both experts and novices chiming on the merits of the trade.
Below, we’ve gathered some of the top Tweets regarding the news of the Stafford trade. It was an outpouring of love, analysis, and bewilderment from teammates, media members, fans, and everyone in between.
Go crazy 9 🥂
— Mal (@jamalagnew) January 31, 2021
https://twitter.com/bigplay24slay/status/1355714247158849536?s=20
Dear John Matthew Stafford, you are the best thing to happen to Detroit sports and you will never be replaced. Love you forever ❤️ #ThankYou9
— Bailey Marquardt (@Bailey__4) January 31, 2021
This is a great deal for the Lions. You got marginally worse at QB and picked up a pair of firsts, kept cap flexibility going forward and even got an additional top 100 pick.
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) January 31, 2021
The Rams get better in the short term, but that's a massive mortgage of the future.
Thank you Matt, for always giving us Lions fans a slim sense of hope each season. You have always been my favorite Detroit athlete. Go get that ring! #MattStafford #ThankYou9
— Kevin Kapanowski (@kkap28) January 24, 2021
The Lions play the Rams in Los Angeles next season
— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) January 31, 2021
Probably worth mentioning that Brad Holmes was the guy who banged the table so the Rams would trade up and draft Jared Goff.
— Chris Burke (@ChrisBurkeNFL) January 31, 2021
It’s done.... sooner than I thought, and years sooner than I hoped. Thank you for the memories Staff, best of luck in LA#Thankyou9
— Zach Payne (@Zachpayne41) January 31, 2021
https://twitter.com/Markstradamus_/status/1355778919660740608?s=20
More details trickling in...
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) January 31, 2021
Stafford wanted to play for McVay and be in LA. Lions did him right in the end. There were other offers. Very good ones, too.
Detroit and Rams front offices both knew that this was the trade that made all parties happiest— teams, player, coach.
Stafford has been the only Lions QB I've watched on TV since I was 13yrs old. #ThankYou9
— New Balances & Knee Braces (@_ITS___NICK_) January 31, 2021
The Detroit Lions appear to have gotten the best possible deal in exchange for their longtime veteran quarterback. And the move represents a positive change for both the player and the team.
Matthew Stafford now gets to pursue cementing his legacy with a playoff-caliber team in the Los Angeles Rams, who have a highly-successful head coach in Sean McVay. While the Detroit Lions and their new duo of general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell have the draft ammunition to retool their roster over the next three years while also getting themselves a two-time Pro Bowl quarterback in Jared Goff.