Detroit Lions need to build around Jared Goff after blockbuster trade
After trading Matthew Stafford for Jared Goff, the Detroit Lions need to ensure Goff is set up to succeed.
The Detroit Lions‘ woes weren’t because of Matthew Stafford, who they took with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. Rather, the team struggled because they failed to build around Stafford and give him what he needed to succeed.
When the 2020 season concluded and the Lions once again failed to make it to the playoffs or do much of anything, it was time for them to part ways with Stafford. Instead of taking their chances on a quarterback in the draft, the Lions instead decided to send Stafford to the Rams in exchange for their former No. 1 overall pick, Jared Goff.
Goff isn’t a bad quarterback. The Rams simply made the decision to move on from him because it was clear the two weren’t a good match. Once Todd Gurley wasn’t the same kind of player, the Rams’ offense wasn’t the same and Goff wasn’t the kind of quarterback that Sean McVay envisioned for his offense.
The Lions are in rebuild mode, there’s no doubt about that. The good news for Detroit though is that they know what they have with Goff, which wouldn’t have been the case had they gotten a rookie signal-caller in the draft. With Goff, they have a quarterback capable of winning games, but they have to make sure he has talent surrounding him.
If the Detroit Lions want this trade to pan out, they have to give Jared Goff help.
The biggest area that needs addressing in Detroit is along the offensive line, as Stafford was sacked 38 times in 2020. Goff had a respectable offensive line in Los Angeles, so this will be important in ensuring that he can play well behind the line.
Goff will no longer have Cooper Kupp at his disposal and, with Marvin Jones hitting free agency this offseason and Kenny Golladay missing nearly all of last season, the Lions need to make sure they give Goff some weapons to throw to. Perhaps they can make an attempt to sign Rams receiver Josh Reynolds, who is going to be a free agent, and who had 618 yards in the 2020 season.
The Lions do have tight end T.J. Hockenson and running back D’Andre Swift, two young playmakers who can hopefully take the pressure off of Goff. Those two won’t be enough, however.
Next. Winners and Losers from Stafford Trade. dark
Detroit needs to surround their new quarterback with talent. Otherwise, it’s going to be the same situation they were in with Stafford. Goff has played in a Super Bowl and knows what it’s like to win and the hope is that he brings that attitude to the Motor City.