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The Los Angeles Rams immediately went to work after bouncing out of the playoffs with a loss to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Round two weeks ago. They acquired the services of quarterback Matthew Stafford in exchange for 2022 and 2023 first-round picks, a 2021 third-round pick, along with gunslinger Jared Goff.
As per ESPN‘s Adam Schefter, it was the first time in league history that two No. 1 overall picks were traded for each other. Stafford was selected by the Lions as the top pick in the 2009 NFL Draft while Goff was drafted by the Rams as the No. 1 selection back in 2016.
This was the first time No. 1 overall draft picks ever have been traded for each other in the common draft era. In 1978, O.J. Simpson was traded to 49ers for five picks, one of which became the 1979 No. 1 pick. But at time of trade, teams didn’t know it would involve No. 1 pick. https://t.co/Els7J6OR0V
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 31, 2021
Apparently, Goff also turned out to be the Rams' last first-round draftee to this day. The team was heavily involved in several trades over the years and eventually sent away all of their first-round picks from 2017 to 2020, which will now extend until 2023 due to the Stafford trade.
Jared Goff was Rams last 1st-round pick in 2016; since then, they’ve traded away their next 7 1st-round picks:
•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— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 31, 2021
Goff will conclude a five-year stint with the Rams with total numbers of 18,171 passing yards and 107 scored touchdowns for the team. The two-time Pro Bowler previously led the Rams to three playoff appearances and a trip to Super Bowl LIII which ended in a 13-3 loss to the New England Patriots.
The Rams were able to build a win-now team, especially with a defensive unit that ranked as one of the best in the league in recent seasons. However, they seemed to fall short of reaching their potential as Jared Goff failed to live up to the billings of a No. 1 pick and a franchise quarterback.
With a new playmaker on board, the Rams are hoping that Matthew Stafford can bring the best out of the team's offensive rotation headlined by wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods along with running back Cam Akers.
After giving away a handful of valuable picks along with their former starting quarterback, the Rams are hoping that the deal will eventually pay dividends as they aim for greater heights sooner rather than later.
