Peyton Manning's rare QB insight shows why the Rams traded so much for Matthew Stafford and how it led to a Super Bowl payoff
The Los Angeles Rams paid a massive price to trade for star QB Matthew Stafford during the 2021 NFL offseason. They sent QB Jared Goff along with a 2022 and 2023 first-round pick and a 2021 third-round pick. This was a very lucrative trade package in total, but one the Rams would do ten times […]
The Los Angeles Rams paid a massive price to trade for star QB Matthew Stafford during the 2021 NFL offseason. They sent QB Jared Goff along with a 2022 and 2023 first-round pick and a 2021 third-round pick. This was a very lucrative trade package in total, but one the Rams would do ten times over thanks to their Super Bowl victory in 2022.
Obviously, the Rams believed Stafford could lead them to the NFL mountain top, and he went number one overall in the 2009 NFL Draft for a reason. Hall of Fame QB Peyton Manning knew Stafford would be a successful pro after just seeing him throw one pass in person while he was still a college athlete. According to his older brother Cooper, he even called him being a future number one overall pick.
Peyton Manning knew Matthew Stafford was going to be a special talent
Cooper Manning recently appeared on the Under the Numbers Podcast, where he shared a story about seeing Matthew Stafford throw at the Manning Passing Academy in the summer of 2008. Stafford, at the time, was preparing for his Junior year at Georgia, which would end up being his final collegiate season. He already had some some solid NFL buzz entering the year but his career season in 2008 would catapult him to be the number one overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft to the Detroit Lions.
But before he threw a single pass during his Junior season, he attended the Manning Passing Academy, where Cooper recalls Stafford catching Peyton's eye in a big way after just a couple of throws.
"I can remember standing next to Peyton one time when these college kids were throwing, and Matthew Stafford dropped back and threw one. Peyton was like, 'Yep, he'll be the No. 1 pick,'" said Cooper. "It was like two throws — it was that simple."
It appears Peyton's Hall of Fame ability on the field has given him a keen eye for spotting talent at the position. Stafford went on to prove Manning right by throwing for a career-high 3,459 yards (that led the SEC) and a career-high 25 touchdowns, which earned him the right to be the first overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.
Stafford has also had a very successful career, throwing for 59,809 yards (7th most in NFL history), 377 touchdowns (10th most in NFL history), and only 188 interceptions over his 16-year career. During his four-year run with the Rams, he has appeared in 57 games, has a 34-23 record, and has thrown for 14,700 yards (6th most in Rams history), 95 touchdowns (8th most in Rams history), and 44 interceptions. He has undoubtedly proven Peyton right and made the Rams look brilliant for pulling the trigger to trade for him. If his individual numbers weren't enough to make you agree with that sentiment, the fact that he led the team to a Super Bowl championship in 2022 should do the trick.
Los Angeles Rams can breathe easier as major obstacle in their way of major trade is now out of their way
The Los Angeles Rams have long been rumored to make a splash move to bring Jalen Ramsey back to Los Angeles, reuniting the team with one of their most important players of the last decade. Last week, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that the Miami Dolphins were engaged with trade talks with several teams for Ramsey. […]
