Could the Detroit Lions trade quarterback Matthew Stafford with an eye on taking a quarterback in the 2020 NFL draft, in which they own the third overall pick?
WDIV-TV reported “Sources close to the Detroit Lions have confirmed to Local 4′s Bernie Smilovitz that trade talks concerning quarterback Matthew Stafford have been underway for a couple of weeks.”
Lions general manager Bob Quinn, meanwhile, told the Free Press that it was “100% False!!” in a text message to the paper.
Although we haven’t heard anything from Stafford himself, Kelly Stafford weighed in from an Instagram story, saying she “could stay in (California)” if her husband was traded to the Los Angeles Chargers:
Oh boy. There is another thing that could be happening here — it’s all a pre-draft smokescreen meant to drum up business for the No. 3 pick so the Lions can maximize their value when another NFL team trades for it. Or this could really be a trade the Lions are pursuing. Stay tuned.
The Lions are putting out the greatest smokescreen in NFL history with the Stafford trade news. Even got Stafford's wife to buy-in. Amazing.
— Isaac (@WorldofIsaac) February 13, 2020
I don’t care if Lions trading Stafford rumors are true or false. Because regardless, THIS IS GREAT FOR THE DRAFT! Make teams believe you’re considering it. Make teams believe you’re open to drafting a QB at #3. Continue to drive up the asking price of a potential trade.
— Mike Sullivan (@MikeSullivan) February 13, 2020
Any rumor of a trade of Matt Stafford is pure folly. The Lions, in the way they have structured repeated contracts, have made him untradeable. Would cost them $32M in Cap for him to NOT be there.
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) February 13, 2020
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