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Trade Matthew Stafford? Market might not get any better

By James F. Puzzuoli

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 30: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions warms up before a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on December 30, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 30: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions warms up before a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on December 30, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
(Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

NOW OR NEVER?

On Friday’s “The Rich Eisen Show” (12-28-18, Hour 2), guest host Jody Ohler asked whether or not there was a market for Stafford, and ESPN’s Mike Sando’s response was hard to decipher:

"“At least half the league, and probably, you know, conservatively a dozen teams would be better with him, right? Or ten teams would be definitely better with him. So, if you’re a team that’s, you know, you’re a little desperate.”"

My first thought is where does that leave the Detroit Lions without Stafford? There is no quarterback on the roster that is even half as good as Stafford – at least in terms of talent. Then I looked a bit closer at the quote and started to wonder if Stafford’s trade value is already diminishing.

Mike Sando starts his quote with half the league (16 teams), then moves to 12 teams and says that is conservative, and then finally settles on 10 teams being better with Stafford. From start to finish of Sando’s thought, 37% less teams would be better off with Stafford.

Sando also uses the word “desperate” to describe teams that may want Stafford. This is not a word associated with a great acquisition.

So, are the Lions one of the teams that would be better off without Stafford? Can Stafford’s value go up next year from “desperate” teams wanting him this year?

Mike Sando also made a point to mention the dysfunctional aspect of this Detroit Lions franchise:

"“If I were an attorney for Matthew Stafford, defending him, you know, against criticism. I mean this team has been twenty-fifth or worse overall in defense, special teams. They’ve had no run game for him. I mean, if you had a recipe for putting too much on a quarterback’s plate and then wondering why he doesn’t succeed over time – Detroit.”"

In order to help Stafford to finally achieve something with this team, is the best move for the Detroit Lions to continue building up the defense and the run game? That build is going to be difficult with the quarterback’s huge contract on the books. But that is where general manager Bob Quinn has all of the responsibility fall on his shoulders.

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