The Detroit Lions are 1-5, but could they end up trading struggling quarterback Matthew Stafford?
The NFL trade deadline is right around the corner, but fans can’t be blamed for not knowing that nor not being all that excited for it. Rarely are deals struck before the deadline in football and hardly ever do they involve big name players. Unlike baseball — which often features huge pitchers moving teams at the deadline — the NFL has rarely seen game changing players move teams and almost never has a franchise quarterback been moved.
Could that change with the Detroit Lions and Matthew Stafford?
With no guaranteed money left in his future beyond this season, there seems to be financial incentive for the Lions to move on from Stafford in addition to his recent struggles on the field. That’s a far-out theory to have, but it’s one that makes enough sense that ESPN’s Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter weighed in on it this week.
According to the duo, while it’s possible that the Lions could trade Stafford and not have to worry about dead money, it’s not their intention at the moment.
"Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is scheduled to make $17 million and then $16.5 million in base salary. But his contract, like Kaepernick’s, contains no more guaranteed money after this season. Therein lies the reason the Lions would have an opportunity to trade Stafford if they wanted, though the belief is that they have no intention of doing so."
Now, let’s be truly realistic about this. While it’s not a bad idea for Lions fans to think that Stafford could be moved and a new quarterback era could begin in the near future in the Motor City, it doesn’t make a ton of sense for a deal to be made. Teams would no doubt entertain the idea of acquiring Stafford as Cleveland, New York and Houston might spring to get franchise quarterback no matter the cost.
That being said, Detroit isn’t yet in a rebuilding mode despite the 1-5 start. They might not be playoff bound this year but the window to make a title run isn’t yet closed and the only way to close it would be to strip the franchise of a capable quarterback. Stafford isn’t perfect but he’s still a better option than almost any other that is out there an currently available.
Detroit might develop a young quarterback to eventually take over for Stafford but it’s not going to be a quick switch fix for the Lions. Stafford is their quarterback and regardless of the fact that there is no financial detriment to moving him — it’s not going to happen.