Matthew Stafford Business Correspondences: Here Are The Five Most Likely Teams To Sign A Successful Lions Deal

NFL fans have wondered for years what the ceiling would be for a quarterback with Matthew Stafford’s arm talent if he could just escape the Detroit Lions franchise. But with constant front-office turnover, the Lions haven’t quite done the best job providing a solid cast of support for Stafford. And with the lack of stability from a coaching staff perspective, the same can be said. Fans who hoped to see Stafford with a better team around him will finally get their wish. Stafford and the Detroit Lions spent a few weeks after the offseason pondering their options and they reportedly agreed to go their separate ways.

Now for the next step in the process. The Lions will open the phone lines to begin making offers for their franchise quarterback. The auctions are expected to be heavy. Stafford has expressed a desire for a fresh start in recent weeks and the Lions have agreed to put him on the trading block, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Nework. Since the end of the regular season, the two teams have had “open and healthy” discussions, and with a new head coach in Dan Campbell and a new offensive coordinator, this certainly seems like the right time to make a change.

The Lions are expected to receive at least one first-round pick in exchange for Stafford, even though there are plenty of quarterbacks reportedly in the market this offseason, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter. So which teams would give up their first round for the veteran caller? Several teams are expected to generate a lot of interest.

Below, we’re going to break down five teams that should at least pick up the phone and call the Lions about their quarterback. Stafford has a lot of connections in the league so he could play under a head coach or general manager he knows in 2021.

As RJ Blanc from CBS Sports Noted, new Washington GM Martin Mayhew was GM in Detroit when Stafford was drafted with the first pick in 2009. It turned out to be a great move and the University of Georgia prospect has set several franchise and NFL records during his tenure with the Lions. Washington has Alex Smith, who made a remarkable comeback in the NFL last season, but has struggled to stay healthy due to other lingering injuries. Washington had to pitch mate Taylor Heinicke in his postseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Washington has an all-star receiver to Terry McLaurin, a talented 2020 rookie running back to Antonio Gibson, and an elite defense that’s highlighted by a defensive line made up of all the first-round picks. Even with a healthy Smith, Washington could level up to quarterback, and it’s a move that could potentially make him a legitimate candidate. Washington is expected to call and see if the Lions accept the No.19 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Philip Rivers recently announced his retirement, so naturally the Colts are also looking for a new starting quarterback. Like Washington, they’re a team that appear to be just a quarterback, but they’re much closer to being a legitimate contender. Rivers led the Colts to an 11-5 record last season – which was their best campaign since 2014. It’s a franchise that has had some bad luck with the quarterback position since they split from Peyton Manning. Andrew Luck decided to hang up his boots early, Jacoby Brissett didn’t take advantage of his opportunity as a starter, and then Rivers gave Indy just one season. Stafford is on contract for two more years and appears to have plenty more. He also still has elite arm talent and knows how to spread the ball between several talented players, so he can fit in perfectly with TY Hilton and Michael Pittman Jr.

The 49ers have Jimmy Garoppolo under contract for at least two more seasons, but that doesn’t mean San Francisco won’t leave him this offseason. Last month, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked about Garoppolo, and he didn’t look overly confident about his franchise quarterback.

“You can’t say anything for sure,” the coach told reporters, by ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. “You don’t just sit here and make promises about nothing. When you build a football team, it’s your job to build the best team year after year.”

Shanahan opened his dialogue by saying he thinks Garoppolo “is going to be our quarterback next year,” but his answers to questions about his quarterback certainly sounded like he was open to a change. It’s hard to believe everything you hear from coaches – remember when the Arizona Cardinals said Josh Rosen was their quarterback before they drafted Kyler Murray? The 49ers are only one year away from the Super Bowl, but they failed to advance to the playoffs last season. With solid defense and then versatile weapons like Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle, this team would instantly get back to competition if they were upgraded to quarterback.

Former Lions head coach Matt Patricia is back with the Patriots, so maybe he could say a good word with Bill Belichick regarding Stafford. The Cam Newton experiment didn’t work out and the Patriots are once again looking for a new quarterback to fill the void left by Tom Brady. It’s true that New England have plenty of holes to fill this offseason on the offensive side of the ball, but the quarterback issue is clearly the most important one. Stafford’s contract is affordable, the Patriots have the No. 15 overall pick and Belichick obviously has some success when it comes to working with a veteran signalman and developing a system that works around him.

After a 4-1 record as a rookie, Drew Lock took a step back in his second season. He’s only won four of 13 starts, and he’s completed 57.3% of his passes for 2,933 yards, 16 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Despite having two proficient running backs and plenty of weapons to throw the ball, Lock’s inconsistencies held back the attack in several games last season, which could lead one to believe someone from another will start under center in 2021. John Elway isn’t shooting more in Denver, but he’s still at the front office and could be a fan of a big-armed veteran who fits the prototypical build. The Broncos could also be seen as a team that is a quarterback to success, as they have young guns in Tim Patrick, Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler and then tight end Noah Fant. Having Lock learn behind a veteran for a year or two would also be beneficial.