Former Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford will make his debut for the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday evening.
The Rams are set to open the 2021 regular season against the Chicago Bears on NBC’s Sunday Night Football. It should be a fun one.
It’s been a huge offseason for Stafford, who was traded from Detroit to Los Angeles in a blockbuster deal that included Jared Goff. Stafford reportedly requested a trade following the regular season. The former No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick believed it was time to move on from Detroit.
According to a report from NFL.com, Stafford was not open to all trade destinations.
The Pro Bowl quarterback reportedly prevented a trade to Carolina. Stafford reportedly made it clear that he wanted to go to the Rams, despite the Panthers making a big offer.
From the report:
Yet, in late January, one team jumped to the forefront — the Carolina Panthers. They were aggressive. Sources said they actually neared a deal by the time they left the Senior Bowl. Several people involved thought they would be the winner of the Stafford sweepstakes.
Sources say that’s when Stafford — who makes his first start for the Rams on Sunday night versus the Bears — stepped in. After consulting with his family, he made clear that he wanted to go to the Rams and so did his family. Stafford made his voice heard, and the Lions brass listened.
Suddenly, the Panthers — despite offering a prime first-round pick and Teddy Bridgewater — were out.
Stafford on the Panthers would’ve been interesting, but it’s tough to blame the quarterback for preferring Sean McVay and Southern California.
The Rams and the Bears are set to kick off at 8:20 p.m. E.T.
The game will air on NBC.
The post Matthew Stafford Reportedly Said No To 1 Trade Destination appeared first on The Spun.
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