LA Rams: Five most underrated moves of the 2021 offseason

Trading for veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford

Okay, so whether or not you agree with the price paid by the LA Rams organization for the football exchange of starting quarterbacks between the LA Rams and the Detroit Lions, you cannot fault the Rams organization for the effort to upgrade at the quarterback position. The LA Rams are often bear the brunt of chortles and ridicule because the team is actively shopping their first-round draft picks to obtain veteran game-changers. But if the team lands elite NFL talent in the process, it’s tough to find fault with the results.

Each pick in the NFL Draft carries a significant level of risk. Even the top-rated prospects are by no means a sure-thing in terms of delivering at the NFL level of play. Starting at a position is not a success, but rather reflects the decision of a team to try to reclaim the value invested in a player. Rather than roll the dice to see if a round-one rookie was worth the cost, the Rams choose to invest in a known entity. For 2021, that meant that the team wanted and obtained Matthew Stafford.

Whether or not former quarterback Jared Goff will outgrow his propensity to turn the ball over when defenses apply pressure, the Rams are in a position to compete in a Super Bowl. Matthew Stafford is a savvy veteran quarterback who has borne the burden of success for the Detroit Lions and has not yet tasted post-season success.  So why did the LA Rams organization, and head coach Sean McVay specifically, feel that Stafford was the right man for the team here and now?

Although Patrick Mahomes is the clear frontrunner of improvisation with a football in his hands, there is a strong argument to be made for Matthew Stafford as the second-best quarterback in that department. Stafford scores highly on reading his progressions, throwing off-balance, and throwing from a wide range of throwing motions. He can throw to a receiver he is not tracking, can lead defensive backs away from the receiver with his eyes, can hurl bombs, and can lead his team in come-from-behind victories.

It may take a few games to sync up the Rams offense. Unfortunately, once everything aligns, the Rams offense could truly be something very special.