Rams’ Super Bowl LVI odds get big boost following Stafford-Goff swap

The NFL offseason has not officially begun, but the blockbuster deal that the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions completed on Saturday evening will be hard to top.

The Rams shipped out their starting quarterback and former No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff, two future first-round selections, and a third-round draft choice to Detroit for another former No. 1 overall pick in quarterback Matt Stafford.

Oddsmakers quickly knocked down the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI odds from +2000 to +1200, while the Lions remained +10000 longshots.

We’ll break down the Rams’ chances of winning next year’s big game below, and see if there’s a better bet to be had.

Rams hock future for present

The Rams clearly don’t value their first-round picks like many NFL teams do. Unless they trade back into the first round before 2024, L.A. will go seven straight years without making a first-round selection.

While it’s possible the Rams were fleeced in the Stafford deal based on value, that will not matter if they’re hoisting the Lombardi Trophy on their own turf at SoFi Stadium on Feb. 6, 2022.

Stafford will be behind an offensive line that's considered one of the best in football, and will have a bevy of perimeter talent to work with in up-and-coming Cam Akers at tailback, and wide-outs Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods.

The Rams’ defense was No. 1 overall this year and will return top-flight talents in defensive tackle Aaron Donald and corner back Jalen Ramsey, among others.

Plenty of roadblocks remain

Most would agree that Stafford represents some measure of an upgrade from the turnover-prone Jared Goff. However, Stafford has been terrible against teams with winning records throughout his career, and his 0-3 postseason record does not inspire confidence. It remains to be seen just how much he’ll elevate his play in 2021.

It was also concerning to see how L.A.’s stoppers were picked apart by Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, who subsequently struggled against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in these playoffs.

The Rams are a contender, but they’re certainly no bargain at +1200.

Cardinals offer better value in NFC West

Let’s face it, Super Bowl LVI is a long way away. If you’re tying up your money for this long, you should get some decent value for doing so.

The Arizona Cardinals, +5000 longshots on the board, are one of the “lucky” teams this offseason who know who their quarterback will be next season – the sensational Kyler Murray. At times, it seemed like he was linking up with wide-out DeAndre Hopkins at will last season.

Unfortunately, injuries and a rough scheduling patch at the end of 2020 knocked 8-8 Arizona out of playoff contention. But if the Cardinals draft well and take advantage of a bit of cap room to sign an impact player on defense, they could become a pesky team to deal with during next year’s Super Bowl run.