NEWSLETTER
A whole buncha quarterback rumors and reports dropped over the past 12-ish hours, and they left my head sufficiently spinning about how to handle that I was just like, you know what? I’m just doing some bullets on them. That way, you have the latest in front of you, and we can drill down on specifics as necessary over the coming days. Clearly, things are moving.
• Speaking of which, it’s possible Matthew Stafford could be the first quarterback on the carousel to move:
Talked to Dan Campbell this morning. He said trade talks for Matthew Stafford have gotten "hot and heavy," and he outlined his vision for the Lions' future QB. You'll be happy to know the Lions are taking a long-term approach to this rebuild https://t.co/FFflM9T5Y8 via @freep
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) January 30, 2021
JUST IN: Lions expected to trade QB Matthew Stafford before Super Bowl (via @RapSheet)https://t.co/ZbhpmggpXq pic.twitter.com/RHvfCjltox
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) January 30, 2021
• The biggest rumors about Stafford over the last couple days center on the Rams, but, as Luis noted this morning, that necessarily brings along a lot of other questions. For example, what the heck do the Rams do about “franchise” quarterback Jared Goff. Well, they try to trade him as quickly as possible, obviously:
A source tells @JourdanRodrigue Friday that the Rams have started exploratory talks with multiple teams, both in regard to trading Jared Goff and about bringing a new quarterback to the Rams.
Latest details ⤵️https://t.co/0xejAL2L14
— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) January 30, 2021
• Clearly, the Rams are not committed to Goff, 26, long-term, but you’re talking about a guy who has four years left on his deal at a cap number of roughly $32 million per year (so he ain’t a bargain if you decide you want to keep him), and who can’t realistically be cut loose for two years. So if you trade for Goff, you’re pretty much committing to give him at least two years to cement himself as your guy. After what looked to be the start of a breakout in 2017-18, Goff has frankly been pretty darn meh the last couple years, and that’s despite a very quarterback-friendly Sean McVay offense. You’d have to really believe you can take him to another level to commit. (Yes, this is me kinda trying to talk the Bears out of it if they were thinking about being interested.)
• Meanwhile, the 49ers pop up again in there as a possible Stafford destination, which will mean Jimmy Garoppolo will very much be available this offseason (he already was, to be honest). The 29-year-old Garoppolo is probably a steady, solid guy at this point, but he’s not going to offer you much in the way of long-term upside. Then again, he’s had just one full, healthy season to really show what he could do, and obviously he was pretty good in 2019, reaching the Super Bowl. Garoppolo is owed about $25 million each of the next two years, and has almost no guaranteed salary remaining – so at least he’d be a lower-risk shot if you wanted to take it and things didn’t work out after the first year.
• We still expect Deshaun Watson to ultimately be traded (sadly, probably not to the Bears (but it’s not ruled out!)), but his new head coach sure doesn’t want to believe it: “Deshaun Watson is a Houston Texan; he’s the quarterback of the Houston Texans,” David Culley said, via the Houston Chronicle. “That’s all that I was concerned about and that’s all I knew and whatever has been said about what he wanted to do or didn’t want to do, all I know is this . . . He is a Houston Texan and I want him to be a Houston Texan, and the reason I’m in this position today is because I knew he is going to be a Houston Texan.”
• About that, though:
Deshaun Watson updated his social media profiles from Texans photo to simply 'athlete' Watson has requested trade and is dug into stance of not wanting to play for team again. Texans steadfast they don't want to trade him. Staredown continues pic.twitter.com/n38BaZIYHN
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) January 30, 2021
• Of note:
The dead cap hits if traded for the QBs that have been reported or speculated on:
▫️Deshaun Watson: $21.6M
▫️Aaron Rodgers: $31.5M
▫️Jared Goff: $22.2M
▫️Matthew Stafford: $19M
▫️Jimmy Garoppolo: $2.8M
▫️Carson Wentz: $33.8MCould be plenty of cap gymnastics this offseason.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 30, 2021
