Detroit Lions: Bob Quinn has omitted Patriots playbook at quarterback
What the Detroit Lions are missing
Not only have the Patriots always managed to find competent backups for times when their quarterback has been hurt but they have also turned quite a few prospects back into picks as good as they invested in them after using them as insurance for Brady. They have only traded players when they had good depth behind Brady and the value of the player was high enough to force them to part with their backup. Several of the former backups have become starters elsewhere.
Jimmy Garoppolo, traded for a second round pick prior to being a high-priced free agent, Matt Cassel, similarly traded for a second round pick prior to costing big money, and Jacoby Brissett, traded for receiver Phillip Dorsett, all went on to be starters, although Brissett was relegated to backup status again when Andrew Luck returned from his shoulder injury last year.
Two of the draftees are still on the Patriots roster, Etling and Stidham, but they also carry Brian Hoyer as a more experienced option to the other players. That is exactly the kind of scenario that they always seem to have, a safe, experienced guy, and then some players who are developing and have upside.
The Detroit Lions have the safe guy, Savage, on the roster. However, David Fales is not much in terms of upside, nor is he a former draftee of the team. Jake Rudock is in Miami as the third string Dolphins quarterback, and Brad Kaaya is currently a free agent after dangling on the Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals rosters over the last year.
The Detroit Lions still love Matthew Stafford but clearly would be in dire straights if he were to be injured or decide to retire after ten-plus years of football. If Quinn just looked at this as a C.Y.A. (cover your “behind”) strategy, he has no one to hand the reins to if Stafford falters, loses his team, or leaves the game; that kind of problem could cost Quinn his job. Likewise, if the fans decide that they cannot support Stafford any longer for any reason, Quinn would be the person held accountable.
Next. The Detroit Lions best draft picks by round since 2009. dark
We were surprised to watch all nine picks go by during the draft without one being used on a quarterback. Has Bob Quinn done enough to address the quarterback position? What are your thoughts? Comment below.