On Saturday night, the Detroit Lions made a blockbuster trade in which they received two first round picks (2022, 2023), a 2021 third rounder, and Rams quarterback Jared Goff, and in the process sent the leading passer in the history of their franchise, Matthew Stafford, to the Los Angeles Rams.
Of course, Texans fans immediately started chiming in (hell, some were damn near celebrating!) on Twitter, ‘If that’s what the Lions got for Stafford, the Texans have got to be licking their chops!’ It's understandable, after weeks of hearing that "the Texans MUST get at least three first round picks in a Deshaun Watson trade".
I’d caution any Texans fan in thinking the Stafford trade is a DIRECT indicator of what the Texans should expect as comparative value for Watson, who is better and younger than Stafford and should thus yield a better package of assets. However, making it happen to where the package is worth considering is MUCH easier said than done.
Here are three reasons why there is very little that is instructive in the Stafford trade for the Texans and Texans fans:
1. Stafford and the Lions were working collaboratively. The Lions and Stafford both agreed their best option was making a deal happen, and they worked quickly to resolve the issue. Watson and the Texans are doing the exact opposite of that. Watson is angry with the team, while the Texans are not intent on moving him. Also, Watson's no-trade clause gives him veto power over any deal the Texans find out there in the market.
2. The Texans need picks NOW. The Lions were willing to take future first rounder picks, as they have the seventh overall pick this coming draft. The Texans don’t have that luxury as they have no picks until the overall 67th pick in the upcoming draft.
3. The Lions had a pre-existing relationship with the Rams. The general manager for the Lions (Brad Holmes) came from the Rams. You wonder how the deal got done so easily? These are all familiar relationships that Holmes was working with. The skids were easily greased to get this deal done.
It’s simply a word of caution to Texans fans - we shouldn’t expect the Texans to get the sun, moon and all the stars for Watson, JUST BECAUSE the Rams overpaid for Matthew Stafford. The market has to develop and Deshaun has a lot of control.
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