A week ago, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter set the over/under of teams changing quarterbacks this offseason at 18 and picked the "over."
While Deshaun Watson has requested a trade from the Houston Texans and Aaron Rodgers put his future with the Green Bay Packers in question after a NFC Championship Game loss, we have a blockbluster trade involving a pair of quarterbacks.
The Detroit Lions have agreed to trade Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Goff, a third-round pick in 2021 and first-round picks in 2022 and 2023.
It's the first time in NFL history that a pair of No. 1 overall picks have been traded for each other.
Since drafting Goff with the No. 1 overall pick in 2016, the Rams won't have a first-round pick -- barring future trades to acquire one back -- from 2017 through 2023.
Jared Goff was Rams last 1st-round pick in 2016; since then, they’ve traded away their next 7 1st-round picks:
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 31, 2021
•2017: Traded to Titans
•2018: Traded to Pats
•2019: Traded to Falcons
•2020: Traded to Jags
•2021: Traded to Jags
•2022: Traded to Lions
•2023: Traded to Lions
Stafford ranks 16th all-time in NFL passing yards (45,109) and in passing touchdowns (282).
Goff is currently under contract through the 2024 season and Stafford is under contract through 2022.
In terms of fantasy outlook, this is a significant boost for Stafford. While he played with some talented pass-catchers in Detroit including Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones, both set to become free agents, and tight end T.J. Hockenson, the Rams have talented pass-catchers (Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, etc.) as well, but a much more creative offensive coach in Sean McVay.
A few seasons ago, the Rams had the league's top-ranked offense and Goff finished as fantasy's QB6 that season (2018). If Stafford can stay healthy, a top-eight season in 2021 is within reach. Meanwhile, Goff is likely to be an even less reliable fantasy quarterback than what we've seen in his back-to-back disappointing and mediocre seasons for the Rams.
