Matthew Stafford reportedly nixed Panthers trade, wanted on Rams
Matthew Stafford joining the Rams has everyone excited but the quarterback could’ve been headed to the Panthers if he didn’t nix the idea to play in LA.
On Sunday night, Matthew Stafford will make his debut for the Los Angeles Rams, one of the most highly anticipated moments of Week 1 in the 2021 NFL season. However, it’s a moment that, had the quarterback not had his say in the matter, would never have happened.
According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, the Carolina Panthers were the most aggressive team in trying to strike a trade with the Detroit Lions for Stafford. In fact, it was believed they were close to a deal when the quarterback told the front office in Detroit that he preferred to play for the Rams in Los Angeles. Obviously, the organization obliged him.
Carolina was not shy about their aggressiveness on the quarterback market this offseason with reports linking them to numerous options throughout the offseason. After missing out on Stafford and with other possible deals falling through, however, the Panthers landed on Sam Darnold.
Still, it must be bittersweet for Panthers fans to think that the unknown of the Darnold reclamation project could’ve instead been Stafford stepping in under center.
The Panthers couldn’t have found a better option than Matthew Stafford but, then again, the quarterback’s wishes matter.
When you factor in everything that goes into a move such as this, the Panthers couldn’t have done better than landing Matthew Stafford, a proven veteran who’s been mired in a terrible situation with the Lions for far too long. But at the same time, fans can’t be too hung up on that.
Though allowing players to fully dictate how every decision transpires, the fact of the matter is that Stafford and every other player in the NFL is human. Whether or not they are happy with where they are playing matters. So if the Lions had ignored the quarterback and sent him to Carolina when he wanted to be in Los Angeles, that actually could’ve been worse for the Panthers.
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All told, Carolina has hope that Darnold can turn things around and the Rams are in a spot where they believe Matthew Stafford can win them a championship. Panthers fans may have hoped for something bigger and this might still be a tough pill to swallow but, perhaps, it’ll all work out in their favor in the end.