Aaron Donald reveals why he believes the Rams moved on from QB Jared Goff

The Los Angeles Rams made a blockbuster trade in 2021, sending their newly-extended quarterback Jared Goff to the Detroit Lions, along with some picks, to get veteran QB Matthew Stafford in return. It was a move that showed LA was in “win now” mode rather than being patient for their young signal caller to develop, something that former Ram Aaron Donald all but confirmed on the 25/10 podcast Thursday.

Sitting down with former Eagles running back LeSean McCoy and former Rams wideout DeSean Jackson, Donald explained his take on why the Rams moved off of Goff just two years after handing him a 4-yr $134 mil extension.

“Not saying that Jared Goff wasn’t that guy,” Donald said. ”I think he was just younger, and they weren’t willing to wait for the development process with him. They were more trying to win now.”

“I think adding a veteran guy that had been around a long time, that had played with some great football players, played some great football a long time, bring him to a team with the pieces to get it done. That was a big help for us.”

Donald seems dead on in his statement that it was a “big help” for the Rams to acquire Stafford and his veteran experience. While Los Angeles was forced to send extra picks to Detroit with Goff in an effort for them to take on some of the quarterback’s remaining contract, the fact is Stafford bought Los Angeles a Super Bowl title in just his first season with the team, getting them over the hump that Goff could not in 2018.

“Everything happened for a reason,” Donald said. “I think Jared Goff is in a great position right now where he’s playing some good football, becoming that veteran presence, becoming that household name, getting his team where it needs to be.”

Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images

In the end, it was the ultimate win-win trade for both franchises at the time as they each benefited greatly from the move. Stafford helped LA get their second ring in franchise history and is still making the Rams a yearly contender, while Goff has gone on to became a cornerstone player for Detroit, taking them to the NFC Championship in 2023 and signing a 4-yr $212 mil extension this past offseason.

It’s rare to have a trade work out so well for both parties in the NFL, but in this case I think each teams would make the move again if given the chance. Stafford and Goff will forever be connected, besides the trade and their recent Wild Card match up, the two will again go head-to-head to start the 2024 NFL season on Sunday night football in just over a week.