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Free Press sports editor Dave Birkett reacts to the publication of the Lions 2019 calendar with his first impressions of the 16 games on the slate of April 17, 2019.
Vince Ellis, Detroit Free Press

Writer Dave Birkett, Detroit Lions drummer, is reviewing position by position next week's NFL draft. Here is the second of seven installments, on the quarterback class.

Part 1: WR and TE

quarterbacks

On the listMatthew Stafford, Tom Savage, Connor Cook.

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford plans to start in the first half on Sunday, December 16, 2018, in Orchard Park, NY. (Photo: Jeffrey T. Barnes, AP)

Needs: While a minority but assertive minority of fans are hopeful that the Lions qualify for the quarterback in the repechage, the reality is the team is committed to Stafford for the foreseeable future. Stafford has not had his best season in 2018, but he still has four years left for the $ 135 million extension that he signed in August 2017 for five years. He is 31 years old and enters his eleventh season in the NFL, but he is still in the prime of his life. his career and one of the most durable quarters of the league. Stafford has not attended the Lions since the start of their post-season program, as his wife, Kelly, recently underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor. But there is no reason to think that his health will have a significant impact on Lions short-term projects after a quarter.

Lions have been spending time this spring meeting with prospects of all kinds, and the team could consider upgrading its replacement status in the draft. Cook, the former Michigan State star, rallied around training teams last season, while Savage is a companion with more than three times more turnovers (16) than touchdown passes ( five) in his career. As Lions General Manager, Bob Quinn scored a quarter in his first two versions as General Manager. Day 3, when the Lions are armed with six choices, seems like a reasonable estimate of when he could tackle the job this year. At some point, Lions will have to look to the future and plan their lives without Stafford, but the time has not come yet.

Northwest quarterback Clayton Thorson makes a pass as Michigan State defensive end Jacub Panasiuk rushes into the first half at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing on Saturday, October 6, 2018. (Photo: Junfu Han, Detroit Free Press)

Top 3 perspectives of QB: 1. Kyler Murray, Oklahoma; 2. Dwayne Haskins, State of Ohio; 3. Drew Lock, Missouri.

Other players with ties to Michigan: Tyree Jackson, Buffalo (Norton Shores); Tyler Wiegers, is from Michigan.

Day 3 Prospect That Could Interest Lions: Clayton Thorson, northwest.

Flat project

Four quarters could be part of the first round of the draft next week, but it is not considered a particularly good year. Murray, the potential number one choice, is a special athlete who was also selected for the first round in the Major League Baseball draft. It's not for everyone, though. He measured only 5 feet 10 inches at the combine and is a one-year starter whose leadership attributes have been questioned. Haskins may be the best draft passer in draft, but he's not an exceptional athlete. It could as high as the No. 6 Giants, or slip into adolescence. Lock comes with accuracy issues, but has an arm ready for the NFL. Duke's Daniel Jones lacks the impact of some other callers, but he is well prepared after playing under David Cutcliffe. Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield, the two best announcers in the signal industry last year, do not compare to any of these quarterbacks.

Quarterback Kyler Murray of Oklahoma seeks a receiver against UCLA on September 8, 2018 in Norman, Okla. (Photo: Luis Sinco, TNS)

More in-depth in the project, there are several intriguing development perspectives that should populate the middle rounds. Jackson, at 6 feet 7, is one of the greatest armed passersby ever seen. He is not a supporter of Day 1 (or even the first year), but he has God-given tools that very few players can match. Thorson, the son of former NFL linebacker Chad Thorson, was considered a potential choice for Day 2 before tearing up his ACL. He is not the only relative of a former NFL player to be drafted. Brett Rypien (Boise State's nephew of Mark) is a likely choice for the third day, while Kyle Shurmur of Vanderbilt, son of New York Giants coach Pat Shurmur, will be late in the project or will a priority autonomous agent.

Recent choices of Lions projects at QB: 2018-none; 2017-Brad Kaaya (sixth round); 2016-Jake Rudock (sixth round); 2015-no.

Contact Dave Birkett at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.More information about the Detroit Lions and sign up for our Lions newsletter.