Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth
Many Lions fans believe that the defense should be the top priority and I agree. But this is where Tagovailoa muddies the water. Tagovailoa is a charismatic leader that can make plays with both his arm and his legs. Consider who he is most compared to; Drew Brees and Russell Wilson. Would any Lions fan be upset with this franchise hitching their future to a talent like that?
The reason why it makes sense is because Matthew Stafford’s career isn’t getting any longer and after two consecutive seasons of back injuries, the opportunity to find what could very well be an elite quarterback to build the future of this franchise around is the one exception that trumps the need for defensive help.
It would also give the Lions a chance to basically ‘redshirt’ Tagovailoa for his rookie season and allow him to make sure he’s 100 percent ready to go by the time he gets to see the field, all while being mentored by Stafford who would absolutely do all he could to help the young passer because he’s such a team player.
The second option of trading down certainly becomes viable if a team with multiple first-round picks this April is willing to trade them and perhaps even next year’s first-round pick while throwing in a third or second-rounder this year to get Tagovailoa.
As good of a prospect as Tagovailoa is, if another team starts offering the stars and moon, you listen. If they then become willing to sweeten the deal even more, it’s virtually a crime not to make the trade.
But that only works if the acquired picks are used wisely and become the foundation of a contender. If you make that deal then get nothing but busts with the swindled picks, then everything is lost.
Teams can’t count on having a top-three pick that often and for it to occur in a season that they have an opportunity to select a franchise quarterback is even rarer. So it makes all the sense in the world that Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia have to capitalize on this situation or they will pay for it with their jobs.