The stories of quarterbacks Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff will be tied together forever, thanks to the blockbuster trade made by the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions in 2021. There may not be a better example of a win-win trade for two franchises in NFL history, as both franchises got exactly what they wanted out of the deal.
The Rams won a Super Bowl with Stafford and have built their offense around him, while the Lions won their first playoff game in 32 years with Goff under center, coincidentally against the Rams just this year. And now, both quarterbacks have landed lucrative extensions with their current teams.
On Monday, the Lions and Goff agreed to a four-year deal worth $212 million, an average of $53 million per year. That makes him the second-highest-paid quarterback in annual salary, behind only Joe Burrow ($55 million per year). He also has the second-most guarantees, behind the record-setting deal the Browns gave Deshaun Watson.
Another done deal in Detroit: Lions are signing QB Jared Goff to a four-year, $212 million contract extension that includes $170 million guaranteed, sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 13, 2024
Goff now goes from former No. 1 overall pick to highest-paid Lion in franchise history. pic.twitter.com/FKlQuGDf8M
Goff also got $170 million guaranteed, the sixth-most of any quarterback and $60 million more guaranteed than the Rams gave him when they signed him to an extension in 2019.
How does this affect Matthew Stafford's potential new deal? As we know, Stafford has been requesting a new deal, one that offers more guaranteed money than he has on his current deal.
Goff got a whopping $50 million more than Stafford in terms of guaranteed money, a sure sign of just how far the quarterback market has shifted in recent years.
Here's the deal Matthew Stafford signed in 2022. With the way the QB market is getting and how often he's battled injuries, I get why he's looking for guarantee protections in '25 & '26. pic.twitter.com/ZktZr7foU6
— AJ Schulte (@AJSchulteFB) May 14, 2024
Stafford's most recent contract deal has him receiving $31M in guaranteed salary for the 2024 season. However, there's nothing in line for him in 2025 or 2026. This does make it easier to move off of his deal if they had to, but the Rams haven't shown any interest in doing so.
Matthew Stafford has battled injuries repeatedly, with both the Rams and Lions. Understandably, he'd want to see more guaranteed money to protect himself in case of injuries, especially as he is aging.
It's not like Stafford doesn't deserve a new deal either. He's the Rams' leader now and the face of the franchise. Stafford's new deal even came at a discount, which helped the Rams rebuild their offensive line around him to keep him protected from injuries.
Goff's contract should incentivize the Rams to get a new deal done for Stafford soon before Jordan Love and Trevor Lawrence get paid. While these players are all in different situations, the quarterback market continues to grow further. It's always prudent to get deals done sooner rather than later.
