Detroit Lions must stick with the plan in 2019, build the lines
The Detroit Lions need an offseason of smart moves. Any chance of winning depends upon the front office and coaching staff being on the same page.
The Detroit Lions 2019 season hinges upon the partnership between general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia. The first season was underwhelming at best, especially for a team that has one of the highest paid quarterbacks in the league.
But paying for a top-tier quarterback this past season has resulted in little success on the field. Checkout the top six highest paid passers in the NFL in 2018 according to MarketWatch.com.
Aaron Rodgers, QB – Green Bay Packers: $33.5 million
Matt Ryan, QB – Atlanta Falcons: $30 million
Kirk Cousins, QB – Minnesota Vikings: $28 million
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB – San Francisco 49ers: $27.5 million
Matthew Stafford, QB – Detroit Lions: $27 million
Derek Carr, QB – Oakland Raiders: $25 million
What do all these pricey quarterbacks have in common? None of them are in the playoffs. Here are the final standings for those six teams, which averaged six wins this season- exactly where Detroit ended up – for an overall record of 35-59-2:
- Green Bay Packers: 6-9-1
- Atlanta Falcons: 7-9
- Minnesota Vikings: 8-7-1
- San Francisco 49ers: 4-12
- Detroit Lions: 6-10
- Oakland Raiders: 4-12
How depressing is it that the Top 5 salaries are all in the NFC. And none of them made the playoffs.
So, the landscape has changed. Rookie quarterback deals or team-friendly contracts provide the best road ahead, mostly because they put less stress on the salary cap. Which, in turn, means a deeper roster.
In Detroit, moving on from Matthew Stafford will not happen this season, although his market may never be better. So, what can the Detroit Lions do to make themselves a contender, while keeping their highly paid quarterback?