Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford considers the Los Angeles Rams a viable candidate in its commercial market, sources told ESPN on Friday.
While it’s unclear what the Rams can do with quarterback Jared Goff’s long-term deal on the books, they’ve asked about Stafford’s services and explored what it would take to do something with Detroit, sources said.
Reducing Goff would cost Rams $ 65.2 million dead; changing it would cost $ 22.2 million. Goff signed a four-year, $ 134 million extension with $ 110 million guaranteed in the 2019 low season after Goff and the Rams made a trip to the Super Bowl.
The Lions front office is familiar with the Rams’ salary cap situation. General Manager Brad Holmes was a Rams executive for a long time before arriving in Detroit this month.
Rams CEO Les Snead said earlier this week that it would not be easy to exceed the amount of money invested in Goff, but added that “anything can be done” in a salary cap system when he is he asked if it would be possible to move on. of former No. 1 coach Sean McVay was also lukewarm in his public support for Goff, saying he is the quarterback “right now” when he was recently asked about Goff’s status as a 2021 starter. to Los Angeles.
And Goff was aware that Rams is likely to weigh quarterback options this offseason, and some people in the league believed Goff would like a fresh start elsewhere. Goff has 18,171 passing yards, 107 touchdown passes, 55 interceptions and 42 regular-season wins since joining the league in 2016.
Last week, the Lions and Stafford agreed to a separation. A source familiar with the situation told ESPN Saturday night that the Lions would be looking for “fair market value” for Stafford, who is the franchise’s leader in all major categories.
NFL teams began contacting the Lions about Stafford earlier this week, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Several teams have an interest in Stafford, with several league executives believing there will be Indianapolis Colts and San Francisco 49ers, among others.
Stafford prioritizes the opportunity to compete for championships above all else in the process of finding a new NFL home, sources said.
Trading Stafford will mean $ 19 million dead for the Lions in 2021, which will save Detroit $ 14 million in maximum space for next season. There’s also a deadline because Stafford has a $ 10 million bonus for the fifth round of the league’s new year, which begins March 17th.
Prospective teams could try to extend Stafford’s contract to cultivate a long-term commitment.
Stafford will leave Detroit, as long as he is traded, after throwing 45,109 yards and 282 touchdowns with 144 interceptions. The Lions made three playoff appearances with Stafford, losing to the wildcard round all three times.
ESPN’s Michael Rothstein and Lindsey Thiry contributed to this report.