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As the 49ers assess the future of their quarterback job, a new name has emerged: Matthew Stafford.
The longtime Detroit Lions quarterback could be on the hunt for a new home, or the Lions could just try to rejuvenate in the position this offseason. The 49ers are in the same boat as outgoing QB Jimmy Garoppolo.
The Lions fired coach Matt Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn on Saturday. Detroit’s new regime could very well bring in a new QB and open a new chapter.
So what about Stafford at the 49ers? One coach thinks it would be a match made in heaven for Stafford and coach Kyle Shanahan.
“They would win a Super Bowl,” an offensive coach told Athletic’s Mike Sando. “Stafford would finally be in a real organization. He would bow to Shanahan and this offense because there is such a success story with this system.
“And Stafford would know he won’t be hit in the head all the time like in Detroit.”
Stafford, 32, has completed 63.2% of his passes this season. He has 2,876 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 11 games this season. The former No. 1 draft pick also has a 92.7 QBR and 61.5 QBR quarterback rating.
The Lions stuck Stafford on a five-year, $ 135 million contract in August 2017. Detroit technically has a contract out of Stafford’s contract after the 2020 season, but it would be costly. If the Lions release Stafford after the season, it will cost them $ 24.85 million in deadcaps. The same is true if they trade him, and that would be the most in NFL history.
But the Lions would actually save money if they left Stafford. They shouldn’t owe Stafford his base salary and bonuses of over $ 40 million in the next two seasons.
Would the 49ers be willing to accept this?
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The 49ers have their own long list of free agents coming to the free market this season. The real question is whether the 49ers would view Stafford as an upgrade from Garoppolo or a quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft?
Healthy San Francisco has the talent to win a Super Bowl. And it is even with all the players that they could lose in the face of free will. Garoppolo is three years younger than Stafford and has his own contractual situation for the 49ers to work out. He also led the 49ers to the Super Bowl last season and was minutes away from winning it all. Shanahan said he expected Garoppolo to be his starting QB in 2021, but he also saw his shortcomings.
Stafford is not very efficient and never has been. What he has that Garoppolo seems to lack, however, is the ability to stretch the pitch with his right arm. While throwing the ball at Deebo Samuel and letting him be a beast is fun, imagine a quarterback who can hit Brandon Aiyuk in stride. Stafford’s arm strength would be an immediate improvement.
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The 49ers might not be able to draft one of the best three or four quarterbacks next year in the draft. But they might be ready to leave Garoppolo. This puts them in a difficult position. Is Stafford the answer?
We’ll see how much Shanahan and GM John Lynch really believe in Jimmy G if a veteran like Stafford becomes available this offseason.
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