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What is clear from Saturday night’s news, after interviewing the NFL front offices: Matthew Stafford wants to be a winner. He doesn’t care about the statistics. He wants to have a chance to fight.
That’s the crux of his trade demand, which the Detroit Lions will honor as they explore options for the quarterback in the market. He gave him 12 years in Detroit. It did not work. It’s normal that both parties admit it. And never has there been a better time to do this, for three reasons.
Age: Stafford will be 33 next month (OK, so maybe 40 the Lions years) and should have a few more high-quality seasons.
Contract: His deal is reasonable for top quarterback standards. Stafford, who is eligible for a free agency in 2023, owes $ 53 million over the next two seasons. It’s essentially the same commitment Tampa Bay made to Tom Brady last offseason. The $ 10 million roster bonus is due on the fifth day of the league year, which creates a sort of trade deadline. And the cap reached for the next two years is $ 33 million and $ 26 million, the former of which could be offset by the Lions absorbing the remaining $ 10 million prorated on signing bonuses.
Compensation: Stafford will be expensive, but the consensus around the league is that it won’t be outrageous. While Deshaun Watson might warrant prime transport in any Houston business, Stafford is generally considered in this next level. And maybe with a new scene, Stafford’s playing touches a new stratosphere.
So what would it take to get Stafford from the Lions? And which teams should be in the mix? Here’s how it all lines up, based on calls made to league officials over the weekend.
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