NFL rumors have been quick to pick up on a potential Matthew Stafford trade from the Detroit Lions. Coming off yet another down season in Detroit, reports have recently surfaced that new Lions general manager Brad Holmes would grant the 32-year-old Stafford his request to move on to another city.
More recently, reports have suggested that teams are already reaching out to acquire Stafford with several weeks remaining before a trade can be made official. We’re now hearing some more talk around the NFL watercooler, and it’s rather interesting stuff.
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Interest in a Matthew Stafford trade has been slow going
“The Lions for now seem to be having a much harder time than expected when it comes to generating interest in Stafford,” Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported.
There’s several potential reasons for this. Let’s break them down below.
- Likely leaked to the media from the Lions’ organization, it’s being noted that Detroit expects at least a first-round pick in exchange for Stafford. Given the quarterback market and his relatively advanced age, that seems to be a high asking price.
- In addition to a potential Matthew Stafford trade, NFL rumors are indicating that the Houston Texans will be forced to move Deshaun Watson. Meanwhile, there’s a chance that Aaron Rodgers could be on the outs in Green Bay. Add in the likes of Carson Wentz and Jimmy Garoppolo, and it might be a buyer’s market for quarterbacks this offseason.
All things equal, and teams might find more value on acquiring Stafford at a lower cost than Watson or Rodgers. But if Detroit is said to be looking for a first-round pick and change, teams have to find a certain happy medium. That includes paying a larger bounty for the two more-established quarterbacks mentioned above.
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Stafford has been stellar since Detroit made him the No. 1 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. He tossed for over 4,000 yards with 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this past season.
It’s the eighth time in Stafford’s 12-year career that he’s thrown for over 4,000 yards. It also represents the fifth time he’s thrown at least 25 touchdowns. That can’t be lost on all of this.
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NFL rumors will be hot and heavy at quarterback
It remains to be seen what shoe might drop first. A Matthew Stafford trade would likely come first. That’s primarily because Detroit can’t reasonably expect to receive the same type of bounty as the Texans will likely get for Deshaun Watson. Meanwhile, a potential Aaron Rodgers trade would likely follow a Watson blockbuster deal.
Stafford has already been linked to the likes of the Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers. These are just a few of several teams that will reach out to the Lions.
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However, it’s now becoming increasingly clear that the Lions will have to lower their asking price if they expect to move on from Stafford and begin anew under Holmes. The longer this draws out, and the more desperate the team will become. That’s as clear as day right now.