Matt Stafford is Leaving Motor City
The former number one overall pick will not be a Lion next season, so who are the top suitors for the gun slinger?
In true Detroit Lion fashion, they have once again, wasted another great players talent. Matt Stafford joins an elite group of players who were extremely talented but, had their dreams and aspirations crushed by god awful coaching, poor supporting casts, and a tough division. The only thing setting Stafford apart from Megatron and Barry Sanders, he is getting the hell out of the Motor City.
Today, the Lions announced that they agreed to mutually part ways with the former number one pick, which honestly, makes a whole lot of sense. They have a new coach and need to do the best to have a clean slate. With that being said, I think there are three teams with legitimate shots at Stafford.
The first team is the Washington Football Team. With Ron Rivera at the helm, awesome young weapons, and a shaky quarterback room it makes a whole lot of sense. Can Washington really trust Heinicke running the show or rely on Alex Smith? The answer is no.
If you give Matt Stafford the weapons like Logan Thomas, scary Terry McLaurin, and a solid backfield consisting of J.D McKissic and Antonio Gibson he will thrive. I really don’t think that the issue in Detroit were his weapons the past few years, I just believe Stafford needs a fresh-start.
The next possible landing spot for Matt Stafford is in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Now there are tons of quarterbacks that can land in New England like Mac Jones or Zach Wilson in the draft, Carson Wentz or Dak Prescott in free agency, or they could trade for Watson but, Stafford is the best fit for the Pats.
One thing that does detour me from thinking Stafford will want me to come to the Patriots is their lack of weapons. New Englands receivers are terrible and they need a lot of help but, if they can sign A.J Green and maybe draft Kyle Pitts then it becomes more inciting for Stafford to come to the northeast.
While I think the lack of options to throw the ball to in New England can repel Stafford, playing for two great coaches like Belichick and McDaniels is a huge draw. Stafford has never played for a good coach and the idea to play for two, oh man, Stafford might need a new pair of shorts.
The last location that I can see Stafford playing in is Indianapolis. The Colts do not have a solidified starter since Rivers retired and it would be a brutal year having Jacob Eason run the offense. Like Washington, the Colts have great young weapons like Trey Burton, Michael Pittman, and a backfield of Jonathon Taylor and Nyheim Hines.
I don’t know why but, Stafford feels like a Colts quarterback; a pocket passer that can sling the rock the same way Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck, and Rivers did. He would also be playing against poor defensive backfields in the AFC South so, he would throw for North of 4,750 yards.
Any way you slice it, Stafford needs a fresh start and he is going to get it. Lots of teams will want Stafford but, few franchises really fit Stafford’s gritty play style.