On Saturday, the Detroit Lions announced the firings of head coach Matt Patricia and GM Bob Quinn. With two open spots, football fans are now debating how they should be filled. However, one of the more interesting questions in the Motor City football landscape is really how should the new coach and GM, whoever they may be, approach Matt Stafford and the QB situation?
Can the Lions Move On?
The Detroit Lions selected Matthew Stafford with the first overall pick in the 2009 draft. Since then, there hasn’t been much doubt about the former Georgia Bulldog’s status as a franchise QB. Among active QBs, Stafford currently ranks seventh in both passing TDs and passing yards. Being in the top ten in those categories, Stafford finds his name among future hall-of-famers like Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers.
Being the face of the franchise in Motown for over a decade, the next few months might be a difficult time for fans, the franchise, and Stafford himself. Stafford is 32 years old and under contract through 2022. However, a new GM in Detroit is likely going to have to make a tough decision on what to do with the franchise QB.
What to Do With Matthew Stafford
The most logical move for a new GM to make would be trading Stafford. The former first overall pick still has a few good years left, but those years shouldn’t be spent in Detroit. The window for the Lions to trade their franchise QB is closing, and after this season it seems like at least a couple of teams might show interest.
Despite some injury troubles in recent years, Stafford can still serve as a very viable option under center for teams looking for that key piece to become contenders. The Lions can actively shop him in that fashion and look to acquire draft capital in return. With a rebuild on the horizon, the best thing Detroit can do is acquire picks while searching for the future at the QB position.
Once Stafford is Gone, What’s Next?
This is where things get tricky. If the Detroit Lions end up trading Stafford, then what does the team do at QB? Currently at 4-7 with five games left in the 2020 season, an ideal situation would be for the Lions to tank the rest of the way and increase their draft position. With a difficult remaining schedule including games against the Packers, Titans, and Bucs, that may be a real possibility.
With a better draft position, it could be easier for a new GM to lure an attractive new head coach candidate to Detroit with the promise of drafting a young QB. Since the Lions won’t be in the Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields conversation, they could still look for a new franchise guy if they end up with a top ten draft pick. Names in that area include BYU’s Zach Wilson and North Dakota State’s Trey Lance.
Both Wilson and Lance will be highly sought after by plenty of teams including Detroit. Also, any QBs not named Lawrence or Fields in this upcoming draft class might not be looked at as potential sure things in the NFL. However, if we know anything about the current NFL landscape it’s that young QBs are all the rage. If the Lions make an attempt at finding their next franchise QB, it could make watching football in Detroit much more interesting.
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1 Comment
The Lions should have traded Stafford years ago when his stock was higher. His career is going to die in Detroit like many other greats before him. He actually may be part of the problem with the Lions. I’m not saying he’s bad, he’s definitely one of the best among his peers. But trying to build a team around him has not been working for years now. Having Stafford in the QB position has caused them to stagnate. I agree with your opinion that the Lions need to let Stafford go . I just think they should have pulled the trigger sooner.