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Young superstar CJ Stroud gives QB Matthew Stafford highest possible praise

And you know what, CJ Stroud might not be wrong, either.

By Lou Scataglia

May 28, 2024; Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during OTAs at California Lutheran University. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
May 28, 2024; Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during OTAs at California Lutheran University. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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LA Rams QB Matthew Stafford, the 16-year grizzled veteran, was once trapped as the starting quarterback of the lowly Detroit Lions for years. Did he miss out on more accomplishments during his time with Detroit? It is worth wondering if Matthew Stafford could have gotten out of that franchise earlier than he did. Following the 2020 NFL Season, Stafford found himself on the Los Angeles Rams, in what was effectively a swap for QB Jared Goff.

Right now, the Rams have "won" the trade with the Super Bowl victory, but the Lions appear to be much more stable for the long term. Anyway, Houston Texans second-year starting quarterback CJ Stroud chimed in on a debate centered around Aaron Rodgers and Stafford himself:

Hmm, this really does make you think, doesn't it? It's worth considering how different Matthew Stafford's career would have been had he been on the Green Bay Packers instead of the Detroit Lions. The Packers used the Lions as a doormat for years when Rodgers and Stafford were both in the NFC North. But to be fair, this wasn't Stafford's fault, as the Lions were continually poorly run, coached, and managed.

And heck, if Stafford did end up on the Packers and Rodgers was on the Lions, would the Los Angeles Rams even be in this scenario? It's a wild what-if that we could talk about for ages. One cold, hard truth at least is that Matthew Stafford is still probably a bit underrated. He was simply out of this world with the Lions, but not a lot of people cared, because well, they were the Lions.

Stafford moving to the LA Rams in 2021 may have been a bit too late to save what may be a Hall of Fame career. He's entering his age-36 season and might not have more than a couple of years left before he has a date with Father Time. Head coach Sean McVay might have one last hoo-rah with Stafford as his franchise QB, so perhaps another Super Bowl title could strengthen the HOF debate for Stafford.

But that debate probably would have been a lot clearer had he been on the Packers.

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