The Price for Matt Stafford Escalating?
On 97.1 this morning they were reporting that a few sources such as Adam Schefter said that at least 10 teams have called the Lions about Stafford. Additionally, this article was on NFL.com and the writer said he'd actually trade three first-rounders for him. Crazy stuff...but who doesn't like a little crazy now and then?
https://www.nfl.com/news/matthew-stafford-landing-spots-six-teams-that-should-trade-for-qb
January 27th, 2021 at 12:37 PM ^
That's one way to kickstart a rebuild
January 27th, 2021 at 2:46 PM ^
Ah, but this is the Loins. The Loins will freak out at all the demand for Stafford and have seller's remorse, and offer him a mega-contract thinking they are making a mistake.
I'd say sarcasm...but...after 46 years, the Loins have put me into HBBPONE(™) - Honolulu Blue BPONE.
January 27th, 2021 at 4:22 PM ^
+1 to you sir for giving us HBBPONE, a name for the exact feeling of being a Lions fan for duration of my several decades of life. A small weight has been lifted as I can now at least accurately describe my agony.
January 27th, 2021 at 5:31 PM ^
BPONE aside, this should turn into an auction. There are a bunch of teams who really want/need Stafford. For the Colts, Stafford is truly the missing piece. They've got plenty of Cap space. The Saints have an excellent team in need of a QB to maintain title aspirations. The Niners are a good team with a poor QB. Then there is Carolina, Washington, New England and Denver. One of these seven (!) teams will pay an enormous amount for Deshawn Watson. One of the other six will pay a slightly less enormous amount for Stafford. This will wind up being two firsts and two seconds over the next two drafts. Book it.
Then Stafford goes to Indy or Frisco and proves that what happened in Detroit for the last 12 years was not on him.
January 27th, 2021 at 6:28 PM ^
Consider the source. The article was written by David Carr, former number 1 overall pick of the Houstan Texans. I don't consider him an insider by any means.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:42 PM ^
I really don't understand why Stafford for Deshaun Watson isn't getting talked up.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:45 PM ^
Why would he want to come here? The Texans are better off than the Lions right now,(they have 8 picks in the draft, the Lions currently have 5 picks) and he has a no trade clause where he can pick his spot.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:49 PM ^
Yeah, Watson likely has no interest in becoming a Lion. Plus, he is younger than Stafford and Texans aren't exactly a QB away from contending, so they'd probably want more assets to move the needle a bit otherwise the "championship window" would not line up with Stafford.
A Watson for Stafford trade just doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
January 27th, 2021 at 5:35 PM ^
Houston doesn't have a 1st and 2nd round picks in the next couple seasons and they're not better off than the Lions right now because of Jack Easterby(and Bill O'Brien due to him being bad as a GM). Unless Houston can trade away Watson, they're screwed with draft capital short term.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:47 PM ^
Because he has a no-trade clause and there's a 0% chance he'd want to come to Detroit
January 27th, 2021 at 12:50 PM ^
But he wants to go to the Jets??
I know, I know, Detroit is not NYC, and its hard to turn down the bright lights of the big city. If you win in NY, you are a god forever. But you can't really say the Jets are much better off than the Lions are right now.
Unless Watson has gone on record as saying Detroit is not going to happen, I don't think its any less likely than going to an organization devoid of talent and common sense like the Jets are.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:57 PM ^
If you win in Detroit you are as close to a God as one can get, no disrespect, Mr. Brady.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:59 PM ^
He has apparently gone on record and stated he would like to play for Robert Saleh so that is probably the biggest thing.
January 27th, 2021 at 2:32 PM ^
Agree. The Jets are worse than the Lions. The Jets are not the Giants.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:50 PM ^
Because he has a no-trade clause and there's a 0% chance he'd want to come to Detroit
January 27th, 2021 at 1:04 PM ^
Watson wants to get away from a dysfunctional organization and wants to win.
Stafford wants to get away from a dysfunctional organization and wants to win.
It shouldn't be hard to understand why them trading places isn't really being considered.
January 27th, 2021 at 2:17 PM ^
You don't? Lol
January 27th, 2021 at 5:20 PM ^
Because Watson has a no-trade clause and it doesn’t benefit him to come to Detroit. He can pick his landing spot and if given the choice between Detroit and Houston, would just stay in Houston.
January 27th, 2021 at 6:58 PM ^
How about Stafford to the Cowboys, Dak to the Texans, and Watson to the Lions as a base trade? Throw in draft picks, players, and/or cash to balance the deal.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:43 PM ^
The Lions wish they could find a GM willling to bet his job on doing something this stupid:
trade three first-rounders for him. OK, I know that might be a little steep, but there are so many unknowns when drafting a quarterback. There would be zero questions about what I'd be getting with Stafford.
I'm sorry but what has he been looking at?
January 27th, 2021 at 12:50 PM ^
This depends. If the Colts are trading three first round picks or San Fran, it might not be too crazy as there are other good parts there. Also, what about New Orleans? Their first round picks are not trash but it is like a second round Lions pick most years. Five to seven years of a good Stafford for that? Could be brilliant move.
Three first round draft picks really is not as huge as it sounds if you are a consistent winning team.
January 27th, 2021 at 1:08 PM ^
Saints are in cap hell, like $90 million over. Already need to make a ton of cuts, would need to do even more to have room for Stafford's $21.5 mil over the next two years, and even more still to sign a contract extension beyond those two years at which point their roster could be totally depleted.
January 27th, 2021 at 3:31 PM ^
I didn't mean to imply that NO was a great destination, just that since they are always in the high 20's to low 30's with a pick, it wouldn't be a huge deal. I appreciate the context to be able to recognize that NO is not an ideal trade but the point wasn't that alone.
January 27th, 2021 at 1:09 PM ^
I may not agree with 3 first rounders as the price, but "zero questions" is pretty much spot on. Matthew Stafford is an experienced NFL QB with elite arm "talent", consistent, above average production, and is universally respected by teammates and opponents through out the league.
January 27th, 2021 at 1:32 PM ^
I agree. I thought he had an incredible season this year. He's the best non dual-threat QB in the league that's not age 40 off the top of my head.
If there's a team that has everything but the QB, it'd be 3 late first round picks most likely, and it'd definitely be worth it. Colts, Rams, 49ers come to mind. Pats, Saints, Bears, Redskins could talk themselves into something less than 3. And then of course you have bad teams that could be involved, Broncos, Eagles, Texans, Panthers.
January 27th, 2021 at 1:37 PM ^
Likely league MVP Aaron Rodgers would like to have a word with you.
January 27th, 2021 at 2:57 PM ^
That's the truth sir, but there aren't really any others I'd take over Stafford.
January 27th, 2021 at 4:48 PM ^
He's enough of a dual threat for me because of his scrambling. But yes, better than Stafford.
January 27th, 2021 at 2:55 PM ^
Washington should trade for Stafford or Watson. That team is a qb and a wr2 way from being a series SB threat.
January 27th, 2021 at 4:41 PM ^
McLaurin would be an All-Pro with Stafford throwing the ball to him.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:47 PM ^
Meh. Nobody should buy into NFL trade rumors before a draft. Agents working this into a frenzy. Not buying it.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:47 PM ^
As it should. Got to remember that even though he's been in the league a long time, he's still only 32 years old. As long as he can stay healthy, he's got 4-6 years of "Prime Stafford" left in him. He put up some really great numbers for some god awful Lions teams, even after Megatron left. Imagine what he can do with a competent coaching staff, talent around him, and a front office that actually knows what its doing.
Several of those teams, including the Colts, Rams and 49ers would be very hard to turn down, as they are already playoff contenders. The 49ers likely would've been this year had half their team not gotten injured. Hell, even the Bears are contenders once they dump Trubisky's ass.
If I'm the Lions, I let these teams kill each other over trying to out-do each other on trade offers and just take the best offer available. Of course, they're the Lions, so they'll probably trade Stafford for a third rounder, some duct tape, and draft a TE at 7th overall.
January 27th, 2021 at 1:28 PM ^
Why would they trade for a TE when they already have Jesse “30 Catches Over The Last Two Years” James? Lol
January 27th, 2021 at 4:37 PM ^
True, but the important thing to remember is his contract is for 2 more years (at a very reasonable 20 mil/per...approx). Unless he wins a SB and makes the pro bowl, it's doubtful the trading team will be looking to sign him after that contract expires. No doubt, that makes the likeliest destination a current SB contender like Colts, who I can surely see giving up first round picks while they have Stafford. I seriously doubt a team would be willing to give up picks beyond the length of his contract.
January 27th, 2021 at 7:45 PM ^
"Stay healthy" he says about a quarterback that has already broken his back twice.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:47 PM ^
The price for your mother is escalating!
January 27th, 2021 at 12:49 PM ^
Can't see Stafford getting traded for anything of high value until the Watson trade is made. Similar to signing draft picks, thinks team would want to use that trade of a more valuable/younger QB as the benchmark to determine Stafford's value.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:57 PM ^
I don't think they're really comparable though. Watson is so much younger and because he'll dictate wherever he goes, that eliminates pretty much everybody as a suitor.
Stafford on the other hand is right where Brees was when he joined New Orleans and isn't in a position to pick his own destination.
January 27th, 2021 at 1:00 PM ^
Two firsts, a third and throw in Jimmy G for Stafford and a third. C'mon, San Fran, do it!
January 27th, 2021 at 1:47 PM ^
Rams doing the same trade with Goff is better IMHO. Goff is a better QB than Jimmy G.
January 27th, 2021 at 3:20 PM ^
Problem with Goff and Wentz is nobody wants their contracts.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:52 PM ^
I have heard some rumblings that San Francisco might be in the lead here.
Some scuttlebutt is building within league circles that he prefers to stay in the NFC because of the easier playoff paths.
January 27th, 2021 at 12:57 PM ^
Stafford can have his preferences, but he should go the highest bidder.
January 27th, 2021 at 1:11 PM ^
Unless of course those preferences include vetoing trade destinations.
January 27th, 2021 at 1:16 PM ^
I don’t believe he has a no trade clause
January 27th, 2021 at 2:26 PM ^
The lack of a no-trade clause is significant, but it does not mean that Stafford has no leverage at all. If he was about to be sent to a place he really did not want to go, he could easily make enough trouble to affect whatever compensation that team was willing to give up.
Just regular stuff like reporting late to training camp or promising not to re-sign when his contract is up in two years could have a significant effect on the market.
January 27th, 2021 at 10:18 PM ^
This is true, and all is fair in love and war, but I think it’s worth the Lions to try and do right by Stafford if they can find a way to get him where he wants to go (outside the division).
I’m not suggesting the Lions fall on the sword, but if they can find a buyer that wants him and can negotiate a deal that meets his market price, they should do it for him. He produced at the QB position and made the Lions vaguely competitive for years when the team and franchise had no business competing. He deserves a shot to compete for championships.
January 27th, 2021 at 2:36 PM ^
Yeah, sorry, all things being equal, he should get his wish to go to a good team. But the team needs to take the deal that best serves the Lions, period. Fortunately for Stafford, only competitive teams will give up high picks for a good but aging QB.
January 27th, 2021 at 1:24 PM ^
That's what I'd want to do, too. If you're in the AFC, the road to the Super Bowl looks like its going to go through Kansas City and Pat Mahomes most years for the next decade at least. That is not a road I want to take if I can avoid it.
January 27th, 2021 at 1:37 PM ^
Assuming SF can pay handsomely for him, this is a great deal for all parties involved. QB-friendly system that gives the 49ers the piece they need to get back to the Superbowl and helps the Lions jumpstart their rebuild. Could be a three-way deal with New England, something like this:
Lions get (from SF): #12 and #44 this year, and next year's #1
49ers get: Stafford; #46 (from NE)
Patriots get: Jimmy Garoppolo, #191 (from SF)