The Detroit Lions will have a new signal caller for the first time in more than a decade as the team is moving on from quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Lions are expected to trade the 12-year veteran, and it sounds like that trade could happen sooner than we all expected.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, there has been significant interest around the league in trading for Stafford — and that trade could happen as soon as this week before the Super Bowl.
The interest is significant. Expect a trade before the Super Bowl https://t.co/6dvbRxKQUL
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 30, 2021
Some of the teams that are reportedly interested in Stafford include the Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams, the San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers, Washington Football Team and even the Chicago Bears.
At first consideration, it’s not a surprise that the Bears would be interested in trading for Stafford. After all, they’re in desperate need of a quarterback in a season where Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy’s jobs depend on stability at the position.
But on the other hand, there’s no way the Lions are trading Stafford to their division rivals. Not even close. Unless Pace gets a little reckless with draft capital.
Still, Stafford being traded will affect the quarterback market that the Bears are expected to be big players in. Should Stafford go to a number of teams — including the Rams or 49ers — that could open up a veteran option in Jared Goff or Jimmy Garoppolo for Chicago to pursue.
Not to mention there’s still the matter of Deshaun Watson, whether that has to do with the Bears acquiring him or an acquisition by another team.
With just a week before Super Bowl LV kicks off, the offseason already got interesting.