Twitter was stunned on Saturday night when Adam Schefter reported a trade between the Rams and the Lions for quarterback Matthew Stafford.
A sleepy Saturday night ahead of Super Bowl week turned into a raucous evening when the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams agreed to a trade involving Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff and a bunch of first-round picks.
The trade lit a fire under NFL Twitter, sparking debate about the value on either side and the future impact of a former first-round QB swap.
How did Twitter react to Matthew Stafford’s trade to the Rams?
There were well-wishes.
Thanks for the good years, Jared Goff. Excited to see how Stafford looks in a McVay offense. https://t.co/2UbkmDLktx
— Alan Mendoza (@thehomie_alan) January 31, 2021
Old memes brought back.
Matthew Stafford on his way to LA like pic.twitter.com/FEYshoz533
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) January 31, 2021
And some serious enthusiasm.
We are so back baby! https://t.co/F9Nkc3dtOC pic.twitter.com/iFm4AZ4cob
— Greg Biggins (@GregBiggins) January 31, 2021
Matt Stafford will kill it in Rams offense, been a fan since his Elite 11 days, pure thrower and where the Rams usually draft, late 1st round, data shows not much difference between picks 20-40 anyway! Fired up! pic.twitter.com/9Nq9zb4u0E
— Greg Biggins (@GregBiggins) January 31, 2021
I’m no NFL expert (just a heartbroken Bills fan) but I think the Rams saw a window to win a Super Bowl with two defensive superstars in a NFC that is certainly open the next few years and pushed all in?? It’s certainly a move that fits with L.A. as the new Titletown.
— Brady McCollough (@BradyMcCollough) January 31, 2021
Matthew Stafford is the new starting QB of the Los Angeles Rams.
— Tony Dombrowski (@tonydombrowski) January 31, 2021
Stafford + McVay + that defense 🔥
📸: @AdamSchefter pic.twitter.com/sholtyVBMh
But some didn’t think the Rams got a very good deal.
Jared Goff for Matthew Stafford pic.twitter.com/ClLys6UTqz
— BroBible (@BroBible) 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.
The cost to Los Angeles was unquestionably high. Who needs first-round picks anyways?…
Rams’ first round picks by year:
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 31, 2021
2016: Jared Goff
2017: None
2018: None
2019: None
2020: None
2021: None
2022: None
2023: None
And after trading Goff, the last player they took in the first round, the Rams aren’t scheduled to make another first round pick anytime soon.
Others could see the value though.
Yes. There is a major difference between from Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff.
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) January 31, 2021
The Rams upgraded at quarterback and there is really no price that is too expensive to do so.
Great trade for the Rams. Aaron Rodgers and Bruce Arians rave about how underrated Matthew Stafford is. Now Brady's Bucs have a serious new playoff threat next season.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) January 31, 2021
What does this mean for the other blockbuster trade possibility on the table involving Deshaun Watson? The price will be at least as steep.
Now imagine what Deshaun Watson is worth.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 31, 2021
The price for Deshaun Watson has to be 300 1st-round draft picks then
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) January 31, 2021
The Texans after seeing what the Lions got from the Rams for Matthew Stafford knowing they’re going to get a HAUL for Deshaun Watson. pic.twitter.com/K6tpMP0YGM
— Patrick Schmidt (@PatrickASchmidt) January 31, 2021
Fans of other teams even started getting ideas.
Yeah after what the Rams had to give up for Stafford I’m cool off trading for Watson
— Dezmon♓️ (@Dezpanther) January 31, 2021
If we could trade kirk for anything near what the lions got for Stafford we gotta do it
— 🎰 (@RoyalsReek) January 31, 2021
Stafford has been in the league since 2009 when he was the first overall pick for the Lions. He struggled through injuries in 2010, but that just set him up to win the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award in 2011.
Since then, he has been a consistent passer, totaling at least 4,000 yards in eight of 10 seasons. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2014 while leading the Lions to an 11-5 record. However, wins have been few and far between for the 12-year veteran. He is 74-90-1 in his career.
Stafford can prove the Lions held him back, while the Rams can make a run at playoff glory if things go right. If they go wrong, this trade will be remembered for a long time to come as a serious misstep.
Twitter will be there to comment on it the whole way through, of course.