ALLEN PARK – Matthew Stafford has asked a trade council, and the Detroit Lions will do their best to find a new home for their longtime quarterback.
A league source said Stafford approached the team to trade him after the season ended, suggesting the move could be best for both sides. The Lions, who were less than a week away from the launch of their new head coach and general manager, will reportedly continue in the coming weeks. Detroit will not enforce a deal and tells the quarterback that he will be traded if the team finds ‘fair market value’, and has broken the door for 2021. Dan Campbell, both the Lions coach and Brad Holmes, general manager, were made aware of Stafford’s request before making it. ink on paper.
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Stafford was Detroit’s biggest number in 2009 and stands as the franchise leader in yards (45,109), yards per attempt (7.2), touchdowns (282), completion percentage (62.6%) and just about every other Lions record. quarter can hold. Outside of Detroit, Stafford was the fifth player in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards in a season. He was also the fastest player to reach 20,000, 25,000, 30,000 and 35,000 passing meters.
The Lions have reached the playoffs three times since drafting Stafford, but have nothing to show for one of the tries. Detroit picks the top 10 for the second consecutive year and achieves its third consecutive last place in the NFC North. Stafford started 16 games again and completed 64.2% of his passes for 4,084 yards, with 26 knockout positions to ten distinctions in 2020.
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Detroit has the backs, Chase Daniel and David Blough, for 2021 outside Stafford. They also have the seventh choice in April’s draft. Early mockery bound the Lions to fullbacks Zach Wilson and Justin Fields, among others, and that was before Stafford’s trade request.
This post goes through potential destinations and assets that could return to Detroit in return. Check out below for five trading partners that could make sense for the Detroit Lions:
Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis has a vacant position after Philip Rivers announced his retirement last week. The Colts own Pick 21 in the April draft and appear to be at the point where the move from two first rounds in consecutive years does not leave the shelves empty.
The Colts have one of the stronger positions in the league, an impressive offensive line and strong defense in place. Adding a Matthew Stafford to the mix could push this team to the next level of AFC candidates. Indy passed 11-5 last season and lost 27-24 to the Bills in the wild card round. The offense still left a lot to be desired among Rivers and could get quite a boost with Stafford making it jerk in Lucas Oil.
It’s noteworthy that the Colts sent a first round to San Francisco last year for domestic defender DeForest Buckner, so that’s not out of the question. Louis Riddick, an ESPN analyst and recent interviewer for Detroit’s GM work, tweeted, ‘(Colts GM) Chris Ballard is a smart guy. He knows what to do … ”
New Orleans Saints
This is a little more out there, at least until Drew Brees, 42, of Saints decides whether he wants to retire or not. Jameis Winston is a strong internal candidate, but has only played a one-year deal and does not have Stafford’s record.
New Orleans is in Indy area with a later choice in the first round (Pick 28) in terms of asking price. The Saints have one of the better defenses in the league and several attacking weapons are in place. Trading for Stafford slows down any talks about a rebuild and seems like a safer bet than giving the keys to Winston or the enigmatic Taysom Hill. The Lions appointed coach Dan Campbell and defense coordinator Aaron Glenn via New Orleans and said during the interview process with several members of the office. The communication between the two franchises has been captured and may come into play again.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers are in an interesting situation, one year removed from a Super Bowl loss, but sit with Pick 12 after beating 6-10. It’s worth remembering that the New York Jets earlier this year selected two first rounds for safety, Jamal Adams, and Pick 12 for a 32-year-old franchise quarterback, who has been under team control for more than one season not out of the question.
This partnership will definitely pick up steam as this cycle lasts into the off-season. Jimmy Garoppolo signed a $ 137.5 million five-year deal in 2018. Yet the 49ers can get out of the marriage mostly harmlessly. Garoppolo’s season was marred by two high ankle sprains, which started limiting him to six. He only started 16 games once as the 49ers sent a second round for him to New England.
San Francisco’s roster will certainly undergo some changes, but it feels ripe for a start after a downward year. The 49ers have some versatile weapons in attack in Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk to go along with a deep running back room, not to mention tighthead George Kittle. Trent Williams would have been an easy bet for the comeback player of the year if it were not for Alex Smith’s remarkable story in Washington, which strengthened the left-wing pack in the short term. The defense could possibly be restored, but Javon Kinlaw and Fred Warner remain in the city, thus once again an unlikely complete break in the Bay.
This comes down to how many San Francisco buyers feel Stafford can move the needle towards Garoppolo. If Stafford are in the hands of 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, this operation could return to where they were at the end of 2019.
Washington Soccer Team
Well, the current circumstances certainly make this already obvious candidate a little more intriguing. Former Lions general manager Martin Mayhew, the man who won the 2009 Stafford no. 1-choice was named the Washington GM earlier this week.
Washington reached the playoffs after beating NFC East 7-9, but collapsed in game card starting quarterback Taylor Heinicke. Alex Smith, who almost lost his leg two years ago, started six games, but he has an uncertain future. The Football team spent a first round on Dwayne Haskins in 2019, but has already separated from the former Ohio State quarterback. Haskins has since landed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, leaving Washington in his rearview mirror.
Washington owns Pick 19 in the draft of April and an abundance of young defensive line and edge rushers. Stafford to Washington feels it could be the most influential of all, thanks to the defensive foundation and youthful skill positions such as Terry McLaurin and Antonio Gibson, among others. It’s hard not to see bigger things for this team, with Ron Rivera, the coach, and that impressive defensive front.
“But if you have a franchise neighborhood like Matthew Stafford, you keep the man,” Mayhew said when asked about Stafford 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, who made an anemic offensive effort. The receiving room of New England leaves much to be desired, so it will be a more difficult solution than expected. After all, it’s hard to doubt Bill Belichick’s and New England’s ability to recharge it and get back on it. The Patriots own Pick 15 in the draft, which certainly seems more than enough to get the conversation going.
Newton started 15 games and scored only eight times to ten distinctions while playing alongside New England’s empty berth. The quarterback added 12 scores on the field, highlighting an odd first season outside of Carolina.
An interesting aspect of this is the addition of former Lions coach Matt Patricia to the New England staff. Although many get lost in the Patricia-Stafford relationship, the former Lions coach is not the head coach, coordinator, post coach or in the front office. Patricia offers something that none of the others on this list have, which is an in-depth and personal knowledge of Stafford’s recent medical history. The Lions full-back had a number of back problems in 2020 and then suffered injuries to the throwing hand’s thumb, rib cartilage and ankle in 2020. Belichick moved his fair share of the first round in his day, which allowed the Patriots to make a comeback. . the thick stuff in the AFC, so long as they invest in a wide receiver or three.
Houston Texans
This one feels the most uncomfortable of all, but the Houston Texans are perhaps the most desperate and unpredictable team on this list. It is understood that the Texans have seriously damaged their relationship with Deshaun Watson and may be forced to move the world champion.
While many would point to the absence of choices in Houston, it would be a situation where Detroit would probably send more in return. Watson (25) is one of the fastest rising superstars in the game, with a very impressive season for a franchise in the fray. Just as good as Stafford was, it’s safe to assume Watson will order more in return, and then some.
The Texan quarterback recently signed a five-year extension, meaning this high investment would be at least a long-term investment. Houston also does not have a first-round pick in 2020, which is starting a challenging rebuild, and could see Pick 7 as a good chance if his hand is forced. Former Lions coach Jim Caldwell plays for head coach Houston and adds a bit more intrigue to this potential landing spot.