Rams QB Matthew Stafford opens up about Lions trade

The Detroit Lions recently agreed to part ways with star quarterback Matthew Stafford by trading him to another team. Stafford ultimately got what he asked for. His main request was to play for a team that could be a legitimate contender by landing with the Los Angeles Rams.

One aspect of the trade that made the news was Matthew Stafford asking not to be traded to the Patriots. That move would have reunited him with Matt Patricia as a result. Apparently, the Patriots weren’t the only team he wasn’t willing to go to, via Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press.

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“What’s accurate is — and this is an incredible thing by [the Lions] — I asked to go to a team that was ready to win a championship,” Stafford said. “And, you know, there were a few teams on that list. There were a few teams that were not on that list. And they were respectful of that and understood completely. I had thoughts and reasons for each one of them.”

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It comes as no surprise that Stafford would want to be traded to a winner. He will have a desire for success after spending so much of his career in futility in Detroit. The fact he was adamant about not wanting to go to the New England Patriots is fascinating. It would also be interesting to find out what other teams were on his list of desired destinations.

Regardless of the other teams he wanted to play for, the veteran quarterback has landed in an ideal position with a team ready to contend. The Rams’ defense is arguably be the best in the NFL, led by Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey.