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ALLEN PARK – Matthew Stafford has called for a trade, 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 them after the end of the season, suggesting the move may be better for both teams. The Lions, less than a week away from presenting their new head coach and general manager, are expected to close a deal in the coming weeks. Detroit won’t force a deal, telling the quarterback he would be traded 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 Stafford’s request before putting ink on paper.
Related: Detroit Lions accept Matthew Stafford trade request | Lions sign ex-Chargers coach Anthony Lynn as offensive coordinator
Stafford was the No. 1 overall pick in Detroit in 2009 and leads the franchise in yards (45,109), yards per attempt (7.2), touchdowns (282), completion percentage (62.6% ) and pretty much every other Lions record. quarterback could hold out. 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 pass 20,000, 25,000, 30,000 and 35,000 yards.
The Lions have made the playoffs three times since Stafford was drafted, but have nothing to show for any of those tries. Detroit is in the top 10 for the second year in a row, finishing its third final consecutive place in the NFC North. Stafford restarted 16 games, completing 64.2% of his passes for 4,084 yards with 26 touchdowns to 10 interceptions in 2020.
Column: Matthew Stafford is the best Lions QB of all time. It still wasn’t enough and might never be.
Detroit have quarterbacks Chase Daniel and David Blough under contract outside Stafford for 2021. The Lions also hold the seventh overall pick in the April Draft. The early mock drafts tied the Lions to quarterbacks Zach Wilson and Justin Fields, among others, and that was before Stafford’s trade request.
This post will go through destinations and potential assets that could be sent back to Detroit in return. See below five business partners that might make sense for the Detroit Lions:
Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis has a vacant post under center after Philip Rivers announced his retirement last week. The Colts own Pick 21 in the April Draft and appear to be in the place where moving two first-round picks in consecutive years doesn’t leave the shelves empty.
The Colts have one of the strongest rosters in the league, an impressive offensive line and a solid defense in place. Adding a Matthew Stafford to the mix could propel this team to the next level of AFC contenders. Indy went 11-5 last season, losing 27-24 to the Bills in the wild-card round. The offense left a lot to be desired under Rivers and could see a boost with Stafford letting him tear inside Lucas Oil.
It’s worth noting that the Colts sent a first-round pick to San Francisco for inside defenseman DeForest Buckner last year, so that’s not out of the question. Louis Riddick, ESPN analyst and recently interviewed for Detroit GM, tweeted, “(Colts GM) Chris Ballard is a smart man. He knows what to do … “
New Orleans Saints
This one’s a bit more there, at least until Saints quarterback Drew Brees, 42, makes up his mind on whether or not to retire. Jameis Winston is a strong internal candidate, but has just completed a one-year contract and does not have Stafford’s background.
New Orleans is in Indy territory with a later first-round selection (Pick 28) in terms of asking price. The Saints have one of the best defenses in the league and several offensive weapons in place. Trading for Stafford delays any discussion of a rebuild and seems a safer bet than handing over the keys to Winston or the enigmatic Taysom Hill. The Lions hired coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn via New Orleans, speaking to several front office members during the interview process. The lines of communication between the two franchises are firmly established and could come into play again.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers are in an interesting situation, one year away from a Super Bowl loss, but sitting with Pick 12 after going 6-10. It’s worth remembering that the New York Jets got two first-round picks for safety Jamal Adams earlier this year, hence the 12 pick for a 32-year-old franchise quarterback under the team’s control. for more than a season doesn’t seem out of the question.
This partnership is sure to gain momentum as this cycle continues into the offseason. Jimmy Garoppolo signed a five-year, $ 137.5 million contract in 2018. Yet the 49ers can come out of this marriage almost harmlessly. Garoppolo’s season was marred by two ankle sprains, limiting him to six starts. He’s only started 16 games once since the 49ers sent a second-round pick to New England for him.
The San Francisco roster is sure to undergo some changes, but it looks ripe for a kick-off after a tough year. The 49ers have versatile attacking weapons in 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 Returning Player of the Year without Alex Smith’s remarkable history in Washington, solidifying the left tackle in the short term. The defense could be the subject of an overhaul, but Javon Kinlaw and Fred Warner are staying in town, so again, an unlikely full teardown in the bay.
It comes down to how the San Francisco brass think 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, the current circumstances certainly make this candidate already obvious with a little more intrigue. Former Lions general manager Martin Mayhew, the man who made Stafford the No.1 pick in 2009, was named Washington general manager earlier this week.
Washington made the playoffs after winning the NFC East at 7-9, but fell flat into starting quarterback Taylor Heinicke. Alex Smith, who nearly lost his leg two years ago, has started six games but faces an uncertain future. The football team passed a first-round pick against Dwayne Haskins in 2019, but have already parted ways with the former Ohio State quarterback. Haskins has since landed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, leaving Washington in his rearview mirror.
Washington has Pick 19 in the April Draft and a plethora of young defensive and edge linemen. Stafford in Washington feels like it could be the most impactful of them all, thanks to the defensive base and young players in skill positions like Terry McLaurin and Antonio Gibson, among others. It’s hard not to see bigger things for this team with coach Ron Rivera and that impressive locked defensive front.
“But when you have a franchise quarterback like Matthew Stafford, you keep that guy,” Mayhew said when asked how to trade Stafford while he was still in Detroit in 2015. “If we had 22 Matthews. Staffords, we would win a championship every year. “
New England Patriots
Cam Newton is unlikely to return to New England in 2021. The Patriots missed the playoffs in their first season without Tom Brady, delivering an anemic offensive effort. The New England receiver room leaves a lot to be desired, so this would be a more difficult fix than expected. Still, it’s hard to doubt Bill Belichick and New England’s ability to reload and return to it. The Patriots own 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 the empty list of New England catchers. The quarterback added 12 field scores, underscoring a strange first season outside of Carolina.
An interesting aspect to this is the addition of former Lions coach Matt Patricia to the New England staff. While many are lost in the Patricia-Stafford relationship, the former Lions coach is not the head coach, coordinator, post coach or front office. Patricia offers something 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 his streak of back problems and then played on thumb, rib cartilage and ankle injuries from his throwing hand in 2020. Belichick shifted his fair share of first picks turn in his day, which could put the Patriots back in the thick of things in the AFC again, as long as they invest in a wide receiver or three.
Houston Texans
This one feels the most unlikely of all, but the Houston Texans could be the most desperate and unpredictable team on this list. The Texans have reportedly caused serious damage to their relationship with Deshaun Watson and may be forced to move the world quarterback.
While many point to the lack of a choice in Houston, it would be a situation where Detroit would likely send more in return. Watson, 25, is one of the fastest rising superstars in the game, fresh off a hugely impressive season for a crumbling franchise. As good as Stafford has been, it’s safe to assume Watson will command more in return, and more.
The Texans quarterback recently signed a five-year extension, which means this high investment would be at least a long-term investment. Houston also doesn’t have a first-round pick in 2020, starting a tough rebuild, and could see the Pick 7 as quite to be obtained if their hand is forced. Former Lions coach Jim Caldwell is on the line for the head coach job in Houston, adding a bit more intrigue to this potential landing point.
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