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It’s official. Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is officially on the market – the former No. 1 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. Although this news doesn’t set the NFL world on fire in the same way as with business rumors swirling around (current) Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson, 25, Stafford is one of the more intriguing veteran options available in recent seasons.
Two of the best draft analysts are The network project Kyle Crabbs and Joe Marino. On their The Draft Dudes podcast, Kyle and Joe discussed what it would be obvious for the Denver Broncos to trade for Stafford and instead debated the fair cost of getting the quarterback. Here is the knot (listen at 32: 23-35: 01).
“It’s a (first round), and choices, and a player,” Crabbs said.
“One, Drew Lock, DaeSean Hamilton, and one two (second round)?” Marino asked.
“Yeah,” Crabbs said. “And the reason being [Stafford’s] is going to be 33 this season, he is under contract for the next two seasons, you will have an extended track beyond. If he continues to play well, extend it and keep it under contract. It’s not just a one-year award. Financially, you pay him $ 43 million over two years for a guy who is in the top 10 physical talent in the job. ”
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The argument for Stafford-to-Denver
The proposed package to acquire Stafford from The Draft Dudes was a bit of a reach, suggesting Denver should trade picks # 9, 40, 2022 second-rounder Drew Lock, and wide DaeSean Hamilton. Marino and Crabbs then compared this intended trade offer for Stafford to what Denver ordered for Jay Cutler in the infamous Chicago Bears trade in 2009.
However, the big caveat they missed was that Stafford will be 33, while Cutler was just 25 when the Broncos transferred him to Chicago. Obviously, Stafford is a more well-known and proven product, but the age difference is substantial.
The trade that should be compared when discussing a Stafford-Denver scenario was Carson Palmer’s Cincinnati-Oakland trade who sent a first and second round to the Bengals in 2011.
The Ask for Stafford: A Pretty Penny
If Denver is serious about being in the Stafford commercial market, there’s no doubt that the Broncos will have to be prepared to part ways with the No.9 pick. Some may say it’s too high a cost, but that’s just the reality of the situation for a quarterback like Stafford given his talent, years remaining in play and his contract.
Beyond this first round, you probably need a choice of day 2 this year and a beginner-caliber talent. While the “ Draft Dudes’ ‘suggested Hamilton, I think Tim Patrick would be a more interesting swap chip given the barren wasteland that is the Lions’ big reception hall before this offseason.
Rumored to have it, with the capital the Lions will ultimately receive for Stafford, the team will be looking to pack trade and the No. 7 overall pick to be aggressive and move up to a quarterback. While Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence will be off the table, none of BYU’s Zach Wilson, North Dakota STate’s Trey Lance or Ohio State’s Justin Fields will be in range.
These rumors suggest that adding Lock to a possible commercial package may be nothing more than a throwaway lottery ticket in the eyes of Lions. Upside down? Sure, but not in the same area as the positive perception of the top QB prospects in this draft class.
Attractiveness of Stafford attributes
At nearly 33, Stafford is by no means a spring chicken, but he still has 3 to 8 years of good play left in the tank. He is currently one of the NFL’s most talented 8-12 QBs.
While the “QBWinz” crowd will point to the Lions’ winning / losing record in his career, the nuanced view of Stafford’s tenure must include an understanding of his situation in Detroit. Whether it’s Detroit’s incredible streak of absolutely gruesome defenses or the lack of a running game to help dictate defenders into the box, there’s no doubt that the Lions have historically made a horrible job surrounding Stafford with a competent roster year after year. . This may not be surprising for a team that squandered Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson, but I digress.
The locking question
The Broncos are continually linked to quarterbacks during the early stages of this offseason, likely in large part due to the NFL’s overall perception of Lock. Ranking in the last 5 in many important categories, after consecutive seasons with time-consuming injuries, and with just two years of contract control over the former second-round pick, Denver is by no means’ married ” lock.
Those close to the situation may ask for patience and more time, decrying the circumstances surrounding Lock’s situation as “ not fair, ” but put simply, the league is not fair. Either you overcome adversity or you fade into the annals of time.
These are the breaks in the NFL. It will never be fair. Right or wrong, Lock did not do enough to justify a indisputable starting point for the Broncos in 2021. As the kids say, “these are the breaks”.
Paton would be remiss not to call Detroit
The merit of whether or not Denver’s new CEO George Paton should call on Stafford is unquestionable. Stafford would be an upgrade to the quarterback, giving the Broncos a top 12 flag point surrounded by an insane level of talent, albeit young, on the offensive end of the ball. The most important questions to ask are, however, what will it cost? And is the cost worth it?
It would take some sort of bias (if not cognitive dissonance) to suggest that Paton shouldn’t pick up the phone and call to verify the cost of acquiring Stafford. It remains to be seen whether Paton will be ready to part ways with a decent amount of draft capital in a market filled with teams absolutely desperate for a quarterback this year, such as the San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts. , the Washington football team and New England. Patriots.
It will all depend on what the Broncos think about Stafford, the current roster, Lock, and what gives this team the best chance of competing in the offensive juggernaut that has become the AFC West.
Follow Nick on Twitter @NickKendellMHH and @MileHighHuddle.
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