ALLEN PARK – Matthew Stafford has requested an exchange and Detroit Lions will do its best to find a new home for its longtime quarterback.
A league source said Stafford approached the team about negotiating it after the season ended, suggesting that the move could be better for both sides. Lions, with less than a week to go by their new head coach and general manager, will seek an agreement in the coming weeks. Detroit will not force a deal, telling the quarterback that it would be negotiated if the team finds “fair market value”, leaving the door open for 2021. Lions coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes have been informed of the request for Stafford before putting ink on paper.
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Stafford was the No. 1 overall choice for Detroit in 2009 and stands out as the franchise’s leader in yards (45,109), yards per try (7.2), touchdowns (282), completion percentage (62.6%) and almost all other Lions records the quarterback could handle. Outside Detroit, Stafford was the fifth player in NFL history to launch 5,000 yards in one season. He was also the fastest player to reach 20,000, 25,000, 30,000 and 35,000 passing yards.
The Lions have made the playoffs three times since Stafford’s call, but have nothing to show for any of those attempts. Detroit is entering the top 10 for the second consecutive year, finishing in its third consecutive last place on NFC North. Stafford started 16 games again, completing 64.2% of his passes for 4,084 yards with 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2020.
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Detroit has quarterbacks Chase Daniel and David Blough under contract outside Stafford for 2021. Lions also have the seventh overall choice in the April draft. The first simulated sketches tied the Lions to defenders Zach Wilson and Justin Fields, among others, and that was before Stafford’s exchange request.
This post will go through destinations and potential assets that can be returned to Detroit. Below are five business partners that may make sense for Detroit Lions:
Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis has a spot below the center after Philip Rivers announced his retirement last week. The Colts have Pick 21 in the April draft and appear to be in the place where moving two first-round choices in consecutive years does not leave the shelves empty.
The Colts have one of the strongest ranks in the league, an impressive offensive line and a strong defense. Adding a Matthew Stafford to the mix could take this team to the next level of AFC contenders. Indy went 11-5 last season, losing 27-24 to Bills in the wild card round. The attack left much to be desired under Rivers and can see quite the boost with Stafford letting Lucas Oil rip through.
It is important to note that the Colts sent a choice in the first round to San Francisco to country defender DeForest Buckner last year, so it is not out of the question. Louis Riddick, an ESPN analyst and recent interview for the Detroit GM post, tweeted, “(Colts GM) Chris Ballard is an intelligent man. He knows what to do … “
New Orleans Saints
This is a bit more exaggerated, at least until Saints quarterback Drew Brees, 42, decides whether to retire or not. Jameis Winston is a strong internal candidate, but has just signed a one-year contract and does not have a Stafford record.
New Orleans is in Indy territory with a subsequent selection of the first round (Pick 28) in terms of the asking price. Santos has one of the best defenses in the league and several offensive weapons installed. Negotiating for Stafford delays any negotiation for a reconstruction and seems like a safer bet than giving the keys to Winston or the enigmatic Taysom Hill. Lions hired coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn via New Orleans, speaking to several frontline members during the interview process. The lines of communication between the two franchises have been firmly established and can take action again.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers are in an interesting situation, a year before the Super Bowl defeat, but sitting with Pick 12 after 6-10. It’s worth remembering that the New York Jets had two choices in the first round for safety Jamal Adams earlier this year, so Pick 12 for a 32-year franchise quarterback under team control for more than one season doesn’t seem out of the question. .
This partnership will certainly gain strength as the cycle progresses into the off-season. Jimmy Garoppolo signed a five-year, $ 137.5 million contract in 2018. Still, 49ers can come out of this marriage in a harmless way. Garoppolo’s season was marked by two ankle sprains, limiting him to six matches. He started 16 games just once, since the 49ers sent a second round pick to New England for him.
The San Francisco squad will certainly undergo some changes, but it looks ready for a kickoff after a year off. The 49ers have some versatile weapons in the attack on Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk to go with a deep running back room, not to mention tight end George Kittle. Trent Williams would have been an easy bet for the return player of the year, had it not been for Alex Smith’s remarkable history in Washington, solidifying his left tackle position for the short term. The defense may need an overhaul, but Javon Kinlaw and Fred Warner remain in the city, so, once again, an unlikely complete dismantling in the bay.
This boils down to how much San Francisco brass feels that Stafford can move the needle against Garoppolo. Putting Stafford in the hands of 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan could bring this operation back to where it was at the end of 2019.
Washington Football Team
Well, current circumstances certainly make this obvious candidate come with a little more intrigue. Former Lions general manager Martin Mayhew, the man who made Stafford the No. 1 choice in 2009, was named GM of Washington earlier this week.
Washington made it to the playoffs after beating NFC East 7-9, but dropped in quarterback Taylor Heinicke’s opening wild card round. Alex Smith, who almost lost his leg two years ago, started six games but faces an uncertain future. The American football team chose Dwayne Haskins in the first round in 2019, but have already separated from the former Ohio state defender. Since then, Haskins has landed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, leaving Washington in his rearview mirror.
Washington owns Pick 19 in the April draft and a plethora of young defensive attackers and edge rushers. Stafford for Washington looks like he could be the most impactful of all, thanks to the defensive base and youthful skill players like Terry McLaurin and Antonio Gibson, among others. It is difficult not to see bigger things for this team with coach Ron Rivera and that impressive defensive front fought.
“But when you have a franchise defender like Matthew Stafford, you stay with that guy,” Mayhew said when asked about Stafford’s switch while he was still in Detroit in 2015. “If we had 22 Matthew Staffords, we would win a championship every year . “
New England Patriots
It seems unlikely that Cam Newton will return to New England in 2021. The Patriots missed the playoffs in their first season without Tom Brady, making an anemic offensive effort. The New England reception room leaves a lot to be desired, so that would be a more difficult solution than expected. Still, it is difficult to doubt Bill Belichick and New England’s ability to reload and take revenge. The Patriots have Pick 15 in the draft, which certainly seems more than enough to start the conversation.
Newton started 15 games, throwing just eight touchdowns for 10 interceptions while playing with New England’s empty pass catcher board. The defender scored 12 points on the ground, highlighting a strange first season outside Carolina.
An interesting aspect is the addition of former Lions coach Matt Patricia to the New England team. Although many are lost in the Patricia-Stafford relationship, the former Lions coach is not the head coach, coordinator, position coach or front office. Patricia offers something that none of the others on this list have, which is a deep and personal knowledge of Stafford’s recent medical history. The Lions quarterback had a series of back problems and then played with throwing thumb injuries, rib cartilage and ankle injuries in 2020. Belichick changed his fair share of choices in the first round of his days, which could putting the Patriots back in the thick of things in AFC, as long as they invest in a wide receiver or three.
Houston Texans
This seems the most unlikely of all, but the Houston Texans may be the most desperate and unpredictable team on this list. The Texans reportedly caused serious damage to the relationship with Deshaun Watson and could be forced to transfer the world defender.
While many point to the lack of choices in Houston, this would be a situation where Detroit would likely send more in return. Watson, 25, is one of the game’s fastest rising stars, fresh out of an impressive season for a shattered franchise. As good as Stafford was, it’s safe to assume that Watson will command more in return, and a little more.
The Texas quarterback recently signed a five-year extension, which means that this high investment would be at least long-term. Houston also doesn’t have a choice in the first round in 2020, starting with a challenging reconstruction, and can see choice 7 as something incredible if his hand is forced. Former Lions coach Jim Caldwell is at stake for the position of coach in Houston, adding a little more intrigue to this potential landing site.