The most important number is that the Rams escape $43 million in guarantees.

I think the benefit of this is tough conceptually to grasp especially given an immediate $28 million cap hit and Stafford's salary. It'll seem like the team's cap situation hasn't improved. But it has. In a big way. It's just that there's more cap flexibility in future season. Given that it's possible to sign players and structure the contracts so as to shoulder the weight of cap hits on those future seasons, that pays immediate dividends.

The focus may be on the value of the draft picks given up in this trade.

But draft picks are a means to locking up players at good cost.

Freeing up cap room also means the potential for acquiring (or retaining) good players.

So when analyzing the deal, it's best not just to focus on Stafford, but also increased ability to acquire other veteran(s) if not rookies. If this trade means Stafford and say, John Johnson, does that shift thinking about giving up two first rounders and a third?