Los Angeles Rams trade for Matthew Stafford as pandemonium ensues.
The 49ers are so, so, DOOMED.
Well. That’s that.
The Rams just traded for Matthew Stafford. Stafford has been a perennial top 15 QB in this league, and easily can be a top 10 QB, but was held back by Detroit’s mismanagement and terrible playcalling.
Now, he joins Sean McVay, a top three offensive mind, along with Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp. With a great OL, Cam Akers running the ball, and an elite defense.
The Rams had to overpay, for sure. But they got off of Goff’s contract. Which sets the Rams back 7.5M this season, but frees up a ton of cap in the future.
This was a complete disaster scenario for the 49ers, who now, undoubtedly, have the worst starting QB in the division. Jimmy’s not bad. But the 49ers have to make an upgrade to stay competitive. There’s not a team on the planet that can compete with the worst QB in their division. Name a team that won the Super Bowl with the worst QB in their division? I’ll wait.
I’m sorry if it’s all doom and gloom. But this was the worst case scenario, period. Stafford has had four of his five best years as a QB in the last five years - he’s been getting better with experience. Now armed with a competent play-caller, the sky is the limit for the Rams, who have been held back by QB play for as long as you can remember. Additionally, by dealing two 1st round picks and Goff to the Lions for Stafford, they also drove up the price on Watson to an astronomical size - Watson is 25 and a top 5 QB. Count Rodgers in that if you want too.
The 49ers can’t trade for Watson. It’s far too expensive. Jimmy Garoppolo can easily come back as the 2021 starter. But Zach Wilson or Trey Lance?
They just got real. Jimmy Garoppolo is the starter, right now. But it’s clear that SF isn’t going to keep up with these teams unless they increase their firepower too.
The Rams haven’t picked in the 1st round since 2016. They also made the Super Bowl and have been in the playoffs, in three of the previous four years. Picks are great. Wins are better. The Rams do a lot of winning, and that was with a below-average QB. Stafford ain’t that. The Rams have a top three defense, two great WRs, two good TEs, a top ten offensive line, and a top three playcaller. And now they added, arguably a top 10 QB. Stafford’s numbers may not impress you, but don’t let that fool you. He’s going to kill it in Los Angeles.
This is a disaster for the 49ers. Worst-case. Either Jimmy G needs to turn his play up to 10, or SF is going to have a not-so-fun time in the toughest division in the NFL, by far.
Nice to see a lot of traffic around here!
Everyone should stop freaking out, Rams still have $33mil worth of cuts to make pre-3/7. That’s a lot of guys. They may be marginally better, but I don’t expect anything except another 9-7 season with us sweeping them.
Hawks are on decline, Pete the Cheat is abandoning the scheme towards a run-heavy offense, and Russ got cooked at the end of 2020. Cards have another year before they are real contenders, but they’ll get there eventually.
I’m seriously pondering something — and that is whether we should keep Trent Williams or not. If we let him walk ;( then we would have the funds to bring back Verrett, Moseley, and K’waun/Juice. Then I would think we draft Garrisaw or similar at 12ish, maybe a tb first. I just don’t know. If we do let him walk, then we NEED to hit on LT in the 1st. If we don’t, I just feel like it’s a big problem on our hands. I’m thinking I wonder if we tag-and-trade? Could we?
As for Jimmy, he’s good and serviceable, not elite. I think he indeed stays as QB this year, but I think a Shanahan’s QBOTF will come in 21/22 draft. Don’t know when (and I really don’t think it’s Lance) but I know it will happen soon.
Additionally, on the Jimmy topic, I think he bounces back big in ‘21 for two reasons: 1) OL gets fixed and bolstered in draft, helps keep him upright and 2) Scangarello’s returning should get him to click again, I remember hearing that they worked really well together.
Welp, just a blurb from someone who’s probably clueless LOL. Whatever. Go Niners!
I think the doom and gloom here and at NN is waaayyy overboard. People act like the Rams just got patrick mahomes, they didn't. If Stafford is the second coming of Joe Montana why has he never won shit. Look at Wilson for example. His team is way worse than the lions but he elevates them tobthe playoffs almost every year. Stafford gets his team a top 10 pick.The niners went to the Super bowl last year with "the worst qb in the division" ya'll need to simmer down.