Matthew Stafford, top-10 quarterback? It has a nice ring to it, and while he may not have been viewed in that light while he was with the Detroit Lions, he’s certainly getting that recognition now that he’s with Sean McVay in Los Angeles.
His stock has been on the rise since landing with the Rams, with expectations soaring through the roof. It’s easy to see why so many fans and analysts are calling for a big season by Stafford. He has a big arm, is a quick processor and joins an offense that makes life easy for the quarterback, in part because of the great group of skill players.
He’s always been talented, but Stafford is now being vaulted into the conversation as a top-10 quarterback. Mark Schofield of Touchdown Wire sees him as just that, ranking him No. 9 on his list of the best quarterbacks in football.
There is a case to be made that all of the throws and plays that Patrick Mahomes makes on a weekly basis were things that Matthew Stafford was doing during his time with the Detroit Lions. On a traits basis, Stafford remains one of the most talented passers in the league. His ability to make any throw to any level of the field, as well as how he can drop the arm slot to adjust to pressure in his face and/or off the edge, is an elite trait that keeps him atop lists like this one.
Schofield argues that in McVay’s system that’s filled with play action and misdirection, it “could lead to some of the best football of Stafford’s career. He’s not wrong, either.
With 17 games on the schedule, Stafford is a legitimate threat to eclipse 5,000 yards passing and 40 touchdowns in the Rams’ offense. He has Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson and DeSean Jackson to target, as well as Tyler Higbee at tight end and Cam Akers out of the backfield.
The offensive line should be at least decent, too, with a stout defense to support the quarterback and give him short fields. This should be a career year for Stafford if he stays healthy and there isn’t a drop-off in quality of play from the offensive line.
At No. 1 on Schofield’s list was Patrick Mahomes, followed by Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady and Deshaun Watson.
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