Looking at the cap implications, the Lions have to take a hit on Goff for two years and can then cut him with no more hits. The picks can help to jump start a rebuild, and if they draft their future QB they don’t have to start him right away because of having Goff for a couple years. Stafford wanted to leave, so the whole league knew they needed to move him, and they weren’t going to win anything with him anyways. They take a cap hit in years that won’t matter anyways because of the rebuild, and get nice picks in return.

Not saying they will actually use these picks well, or be able to identify a franchise QB in the draft, and I REALLY don’t like their head coach pick. But I give the GM credit for getting the most out of this move.