If the Detroit Lions want Chase Young, they need a strategy

THINK BEYOND THIS SEASON

Stafford isn’t the problem with the Lions franchise. But he isn’t the solution at this point either. The Detroit Lions should take serious consideration for Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert in April’s draft. They would both provide depth at the position and could learn under Stafford for a year – maybe even two.

But the Detroit Lions ownership has placed a winning mandate for the 2020 season. It is exactly the kind of thinking that has kept this team from ever achieving its goals. The reality is that this mandate is about perception and not about winning long-term.

The optics of saying ‘win or else’ works pretty well on the fan base and the media to satisfy their thirst for ownership toughness – even if that toughness is fake. General manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia were probably better off being fired after last season. Because if just one thing goes wrong this year – like the Stafford injury last year – they will be out of job sometime during the fall.

Well, maybe Quinn and Patricia weren’t better off, but if that scenario plays out, the Lions certainly would have been better for it. Having these two fearing for their jobs instead of worrying about building the roster is a foolish way to run a franchise. But here we are.

The Detroit Lions don’t care about the long-term health of the franchise because of this mandate. It is all about short-term fixes that are bound to fail. Drafting for need instead of drafting for talent and impact on the franchise. It is a sure recipe for disaster.

The only non-quarterback that is worthy of the Lions pick is Ohio State defensive end Chase Young. But most experts have Young being taken by the Washington Redskins with the number two selection, one ahead of Detroit.