OT: Stafford to the Steelers?
For my fellow Lion fan masochists, I am starting the rumor of Stafford to the Steelers since Big Ben is clearly done and needs to retire.
This is a win-win-win:
- Steelers get a QB upgrade for a team that has enough pieces to be a contender.
- Stafford gets a shot at a SuperBowl run
- Lions get some draft picks and free up salary cap space for the 25th rebuild of my 41 year fandom.
January 11th, 2021 at 8:03 AM ^
Steelers don’t need a QB. They need a better defense. He will go to either 49ers or Colts.
January 11th, 2021 at 9:43 AM ^
Uh? They have a top-10 defense? Lol
January 11th, 2021 at 10:40 AM ^
Their defense was not as good as the numbers indicate. That 11-0 record was a fluke. Also, they have more free agents on their roster than any other team. They have 2-3 excellent players on the front 7 but they are not a top defense and will be weaker next year with all the free agents they are likely to lose. I think they have little cap room.
January 11th, 2021 at 9:46 AM ^
The Steelers defense was the top D in the league this year before suffering injuries to key players like Bud Dupree and Devin Bush
January 11th, 2021 at 10:43 AM ^
What are you talking about??
Even with huge losses to injuries, the Steelers were a top 5 defense this year. Yes, the Browns smoked them last night, but it helps when your offense doesn't turn the ball over 3 times in the first quarter. Steelers need a new QB and some upgrades on the O-Line
January 11th, 2021 at 11:17 AM ^
False. Steelers D was dominant before injuries to Dupree and Bush. Offensive line and QB play are the biggest problems for them
January 12th, 2021 at 6:20 AM ^
Steelers dline was not the best in the nfl. Washington and Rams both have better dlines. Steelers defense was hit hard by injuries.
January 10th, 2021 at 11:40 PM ^
Maybe
January 10th, 2021 at 11:41 PM ^
As a Denver Broncos fan, I have been hoping Stafford gets dealt to Denver. There have been rumors there, too.
If you’re the Lions, would the #9 pick plus a second or third rounder be enough for you to rip the bandaid off and trade him?
January 10th, 2021 at 11:43 PM ^
I'd do that in a heartbeat. And then I'd trade down in the first and grab someone else's first rounder next year and have back to back seasons with 2 first rounders.
January 10th, 2021 at 11:44 PM ^
Absolutely. And I think Denver would be a great landing spot for him.
January 11th, 2021 at 12:15 AM ^
It would have to be a haul of picks. Multiple 1s.
January 11th, 2021 at 8:28 AM ^
LOL!!! You really don't want to trade him, do you? I'm not arguing your thought because I like Stafford, I just don't think anyone will give up multiple 1's for a QB in his mid-30's that is not also a running threat in any way, shape, or form.
To psuedo-quote Dick Vitale - 'PIPE DREAM CITY, BABYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!'
January 11th, 2021 at 8:54 AM ^
It would have to be a haul of picks. Multiple 5s.
FIFY
January 11th, 2021 at 12:37 AM ^
In a heartbeat. But why would Denver make this trade? Do think they are one QB away from being a contender?
January 11th, 2021 at 2:18 AM ^
Do think they are one QB away from being a contender?
LOL.
The way John Elway speaks, yes.
Unless he's just pandering to Denver fans whom think the Super Bowl is their birthright. Even though Denver is on the losing end of some of the most embarrassing losses in SB history.
January 11th, 2021 at 4:58 AM ^
I think they are. They just drafted a bunch of young pass catchers (Noah Fant, Jerry Juedy, KJ Hamler). Their offensive line is pretty good (very young, lots of recent draft picks). They have a pretty good stable of running backs (Melvin Gordon, Justin Turner). Their defense is actually pretty good, especially when Von Miller comes back. They have Bradley Chubb on the other side and DreMont Jones in the middle. Their linebacker group is solid, if not spectacular. They've got a pretty good secondary with AJ Bouye and Kareem Jackson. They have all the right pieces to be a contender. The one piece that has been lacking since Peyton Manning retired (and before that as well, so there is evidence of this in the past) is a solid to good QB.
January 11th, 2021 at 1:38 AM ^
As a Broncos fan, I would be outraged to trade #9 for Stafford. The Broncos are not a good team and are not flush with cap space. Why would you trade your best draft pick in a decade for a QB who’s 33 and would take up a large amount of limited cap dollars? I’m not saying Stafford makes zero sense, but not for #9.
January 11th, 2021 at 8:31 AM ^
You and NotADuck need to sort out your answers to this question, they're quite different...
January 11th, 2021 at 5:07 AM ^
It would have to be at least 3 picks this year and possibly another 1st or 3rd rounder next year. We've seen teams give up more for the OPPORTUNITY to DRAFT a quarterback. To get a proven starter in already in the league? Gonna have to be a pretty good offer.
January 11th, 2021 at 7:54 AM ^
Put down the bottle.
January 11th, 2021 at 9:33 AM ^
I'd take it. Lions aren't competing next year even with Stafford, might as well get draft capital for him since we need a ton of help on defense.
I think Stafford is good, but Lions are years away from competing so at this point. Doesn't make sense to keep him if he's gonna win just enough games to hamstring our position in the draft. Would rather rebuild 1-2 years with someone cheaper (and worse) like Andy Dalton or Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick in particular strikes me as a great lock room presence that would help turn the culture around.
January 11th, 2021 at 10:16 AM ^
Add Carson Wentz to the list of possible QB's to bridge the gap if Detroit manages to trade Stafford. But Fitzpatrick, to me, is the perfect choice. He creates energy every place he goes.
January 11th, 2021 at 10:40 AM ^
Yeah for about 5-6 games! Then he eventually always gets benched!
January 11th, 2021 at 12:15 PM ^
Wentz would be ok, but I think he gets traded before Stafford does. Philadelphia (and Oakland) are both in situations where they will trade their backups for peanuts, which will probably deflate Stafford's trade value to the point where the Lions are stuck with him next year.
January 11th, 2021 at 1:08 PM ^
The difference there is Stafford looked good and battled tough injuries in the last 3 or 4 games of the season. Wentz was benched for a rookie 2nd round draft pick and never looked good during the season. Derek Carr is alright but he has games where he's an unstoppable throw-god and games where he can't throw his way out of a shoe. Also he said some pretty nasty things about his team/organization after they lost to the Dolphins. I think something along the lines of "I'm sick of this team and this organization." Pretty shitty thing to say, especially when he was part of the problem in some games.
January 10th, 2021 at 11:42 PM ^
I would guess Colts or Saints if he goes anywhere. I would love to see him with Payton or Reich.
January 10th, 2021 at 11:49 PM ^
Colts, Saints, Washington, New England, San Fran, Denver
January 11th, 2021 at 2:29 AM ^
Reich said today Rivers deserves a seat at the table.
I'm not suggesting the Colts will absolutely keep Rivers, just that is what the coach said.
January 11th, 2021 at 8:37 AM ^
In that case, he needs to play for a better team.
January 11th, 2021 at 8:58 AM ^
Also, Rivers is the better qb, why try and sign Stafford if you're the Colts?
January 11th, 2021 at 10:44 AM ^
Lol. Rivers is not better than Stafford at this point in their careers. It's not even close.
January 11th, 2021 at 7:33 AM ^
UM could use him
January 10th, 2021 at 11:42 PM ^
Ben just passed for over 500 yards. A trade would be fine.
January 11th, 2021 at 7:56 AM ^
When a QB throws for 500+ yards in an NFL game his team almost always lost the game.
January 11th, 2021 at 1:44 PM ^
According to this list it's actually just above 50% wins. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_500-yard_passing_games_in_the_National_Football_League
January 10th, 2021 at 11:43 PM ^
don't forget WTF. er, WFT. Also a playoff team in need of a QB.
January 10th, 2021 at 11:47 PM ^
This would also be a good landing spot for him.
January 10th, 2021 at 11:48 PM ^
SORRY DBL POST
January 10th, 2021 at 11:48 PM ^
I don't see how the Steelers get an upgrade by trading a QB with a good arm that makes mistakes for a QB with a good arm that makes mistakes.
January 11th, 2021 at 1:36 AM ^
You gain six years, for one.
However, Ben has a $41M cap hit next year, so he would have to retire in order for them to make any QB move.
January 11th, 2021 at 1:56 AM ^
Well, Stafford is well-liked by most accounts, so that would be an upgrade for the Steelers.
January 11th, 2021 at 8:33 AM ^
He also doesn't rape people...
January 11th, 2021 at 2:24 PM ^
How many super bowls has being well liked won him?
January 11th, 2021 at 3:03 PM ^
I'll go out on a limb and say that Stafford has not been the reason Detroit hasn't won a Super Bowl. And honestly, how many Super Bowls did the Steelers win because of Roethlisberger, vs. how many Super Bowls did they win because they had the best defense in the league? He didn't even make the Pro Bowl in their two Super Bowl years, getting beaten out in those years by, among others, Jake Plummer, Trent Green, Jay Cutler, 39 year-old Brett Farve and Kerry Collins.
January 11th, 2021 at 4:30 PM ^
He was pretty lousy in that first super bowl vs the Seahawks, if memory serves.
January 11th, 2021 at 1:41 PM ^
Ben used to have a strong arm, that just doesn't appear to be the case any longer.
January 11th, 2021 at 12:06 AM ^
That was my thought as well at the end of the game today. I think it would be a perfect fit for all three teams.
On the other hand, Ben might not retire, and he did just throw for 500+ yards in a playoff game (with some dud interceptions as well).
I, for one, would love to see the trade.
Also, all the commentary in game about the last time the Browns won a playoff game, or the last time they won a road playoff game........ jfc my life as a Lions fan has been painful.
January 11th, 2021 at 2:28 AM ^
he did just throw for 500+ yards in a playoff
Yards to the other team don't count.