Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots are likely going to be looking for a new starting quarterback this offseason after things didn’t work out great with Cam Newton. Rumors have been swirling that the Detroit Lions could look to trade Matthew Stafford this offseason. The two sides should consider coming together on a potential trade.
Stafford has been one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the NFL for years. He has always put up big numbers, has a great arm and leadership skills, and can lead a team to the Super Bowl. However, the Lions have failed to put a quality football team around him.
During the 2020 season with the Lions, Stafford completed 64.2 percent of his pass attempts for 4,084 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He put those numbers up despite his top wideout, Kenny Golladay, missing some time with injury issues.
At 32 years old, Stafford has two more years left on his contract. If the Lions are going to trade him, this would be the offseason to do it. For the Patriots, that timeline lines up nicely if they want to power themselves back into contention next season.
New England will have some decisions to make. Do they want to draft a young quarterback and groom him on the field? Or, do they want to acquire a veteran to compete right now.
All of that being said, let’s take a look at a potential trade that would send Matthew Stafford from the Lions to the Patriots.
Patriots Receive: Matthew Stafford
Lions Receive: 2021 Second-Round Pick, 2022 Fourth-Round Pick
Granted, the Lions may want to hold out for a first-round pick for their franchise quarterback. But, no team is going t pay that price. This could be the best option for Detroit if they want to make a move.
If the two sides come together on this trade, the Patriots would immediately be a team to watch in the AFC again. Stafford would be such a huge upgrade over Newton. He would give them a threat through the air.
Throughout his time with the Patriots, it has been clear that Belichick always wants to compete. With him being in control of roster decisions, bringing in a veteran quarterback seems likely. Being able to acquire a talent like Stafford would have to be of interest to Belichick.
Everything will depend on the Lions’ true willingness to move on from Stafford. If the rumors are true, this would be a serious trade to consider. Detroit could then focus on trying to bring in a young quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft or signing a quarterback in free agency, possibly a guy like Jameis Winston who is young with a lot of arm talent.
No one knows whether Matthew Stafford will be on the trade block for real or not this offseason. If he is though, the Patriots should be viewed as a very real threat to acquire him. The Lions would also be able to keep Stafford out of the NFC, which would likely be important to them.
