Jared Goff: It was 'clear' Rams were wrong team before trade

Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Veteran quarterback Jared Goff said it became "increasingly clear" that the Los Angeles Rams' organization was the wrong place for him before he was traded to the Detroit Lions.

Goff made the comments during an interview with the Los Angeles Times. The Rams on Saturday agreed to trade Goff to the Lions, but the transaction won't become official until March.

The blockbuster swap will send fellow Pro Bowl quarterback Matthew Stafford to Los Angeles and send Goff and three draft picks to Detroit.

"As the quarterback, as the guy that's at arguably the most important position on the field, if you're in a place that you're not wanted and they want to move on from you, the feeling's mutual," Goff told the Times.

"You don't want to be in the wrong place. It became increasingly clear that was the case."

Goff, 26, joined the Rams as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. The California product went 42-27 as a starter and was a two-time Pro Bowl selection in five seasons with the Rams. He helped the team reach the Super Bowl during the 2018-19 season.

Goff threw a career-high 32 touchdown passes in 2018, but regressed with 22 and 20 touchdown tosses in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

The Rams coaching staff and front office declined to commit to Goff beyond this season when the met with reporters at the end of the 2020-21 campaign. Goff signed a four-year, $134 million contract with the franchise before the 2019 season.

Goff said he wants to try to "figure out" when the Rams decided he wasn't part of the franchise's future.

"Obviously, the ending wasn't favorable and wasn't fun," Goff said. "But them drafting me No. 1 overall and bringing me to a city that hasn't had a football team in a long time, being a part of that rebuild after 2016, being able to help bring L.A. football back to prominence, all that stuff I take extreme pride in.

"It's something that I'll always remember."

Stafford, 32, signed a five-year contract extension with the Lions in 2017. He is now signed with the Rams through 2022.