Matthew Stafford trade rumors: Ranking the 4 teams most likely to trade for Lions QB

2. San Francisco 49ers

In a dream world, the San Francisco 49ers would confidently mortgage their immediate future in draft capital on Houston Texans franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson and set their passing game for, potentially, the next decade.

But it would be difficult to pull off a trade for the top quarterback available. Stafford is an achievable target for Kyle Shanahan, who has done more with lesser quarterbacks. Shanahan helped take a Jimmy Garoppolo-led Niners’ team to the Super Bowl in the 2019 NFL season, but he could not achieve the remarkable this season with a revolving door of Garoppolo, Nick Mullens, and CJ Beathard at quarterback.

Stafford has the arm talent and experience that none of the quarterbacks on the 49ers possess. Under Jim Caldwell and Jim Bob Cooter in previous years, Stafford became a better decision-maker and distributor, as opposed to a rather one-dimensional gunslinging quarterback who prayed for Calvin Johnson to make plays for him.

In Detroit, Stafford had a great group of weapons, including Golden Tate, Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay. These are receivers who can win in multiple ways due to their strength at the catch point and intelligent, smooth route-running.

With the 49ers, Stafford would get to play with an explosive group of athletes, namely superstar tight end George Kittle. And he’d have an even better running game and coaching staff to support him, with Shanahan guiding the ship.