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Detroit Lions: Could they lose Matthew Stafford to free agency?

By Steven Mullenax

ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 26: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions walks to the sideline after being sacked by the Dallas Cowboys during the second half at AT&T Stadium on December 26, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 26: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions walks to the sideline after being sacked by the Dallas Cowboys during the second half at AT&T Stadium on December 26, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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With contract talks apparently not making much progress, is there a chance the Detroit Lions could lose quarterback Matthew Stafford to free agency?

The Detroit Lions have suffered from huge losses in their storied history. And I’m not just talking about on the football field.

Most famously, Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders up and retired on the Lions’ just days after his 31st birthday back in 1999. In March of last year, wide receiver Calvin Johnson did the same. The second overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, left Detroit in free agency to go to the Miami Dolphins.

Will quarterback Matthew Stafford become the next big loss by leaving the Motor City?

The 29-year old passer is entering the final season of a five-year, $76.5 million contract he inked back in 2013. And Stafford is coming off of one of his best years as a professional, passing for 4,327 yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2016.

Re-signing Stafford to a contract extension to vitally important to the future of the Lions, as their franchise quarterback has helped led the team to the postseason twice in the past three years.

But according to a NFL Network report earlier this month, there is a “substantial gap” between the Lions’ front office and Stafford’s representatives when it comes to that extension. Detroit general manager Bob Quinn admitted the two sides have a long way to go.

"“Matt has taken this situation with his contract in stride,” Quinn told the Detroit Free Press. “It doesn’t bother him, it doesn’t me. I’m confident we’ll get something done. There’s a long way to go on that, but it’s good on both sides.”"

Recently, it was reported Stafford was unsure if he’d like to continue those contract talks into the regular season, which officially begins on September 7th. If the veteran opts out of talks during the season, that puts pressure on Lions to try and get something done next offseason, when the franchise quarterback becomes a free agent.

But for anyone worried Stafford could hit the open market, it’s very unlikely. Due to his importance to the team, the Lions’ would more than likely use the exclusive franchise tag on their most important player if talks dragged on too long. This year, quarterbacks who received the tag got a whopping $21.2 million to play this season.

Stafford’s new contract is expected to exceed the six-year, $126.15 million deal recently signed by Oakland Raiders’ quarterback Derek Carr, making Matt the highest paid player in the entire NFL.

Next: Ranking the 5 best Lions draft classes of the past 30 years

So, it appears the only way the Detroit Lions could lose Matthew Stafford anytime soon would be if he chose to retire. And it doesn’t appear the eight-year veteran is anywhere close to doing that.

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