Detroit Lions: An alternative answer at backup quarterback

Finding a viable backup option

Many fans have concerns about Tua Tagovailoa’s health. The young Alabama signal-caller has all the traits to be a special player in the NFL. A franchise quarterback. If he’s healthy that is.

Since Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia have been given the mandate to win next season, it seems unlikely that they will be inclined to actually choose a quarterback with the third overall pick. Even one that has the potential of becoming a franchise quarterback.

For the fan base, this has led to alternative thoughts of what quarterback the Lions might be able to select in the third or possibly fourth round of the draft to be groomed behind Matthew but also has enough ability to actually win games if called upon to play.

Yet by the statistics, the odds drop way down on quarterbacks panning out beyond the first round. And those numbers drop even further when we’re talking about the third round and beyond. Think about it, beyond Tom Brady and Russell Wilson, what quarterbacks have been selected in the third round or lower in the modern era and become a championship level signal-caller, much less competent.

Now there have been career backups that have been drafted lower and been serviceable in short doses. Yet even one of those wouldn’t have saved the Lions last year. Not being on center stage for eight games and having a defense that couldn’t hold onto the lead against a Pop Warner team.

Remember Jake Rudock? There were some fans who saw how well he used to play in the exhibition season and thought he should be given the chance in the regular season. Well, when Stafford was injured against the Baltimore Ravens in 2017, Rudock got his chance.

Now Jake did complete three of five passes and even tossed a 45-yard scoring strike. The problem was the touchdown pass was to Ravens safety Eric Weddle. Granted Rudock hadn’t had much real game experience, but he did seem to be clearly in over his head.

So what rout could the Lions go to find a quarterback that has enough talent to help Detroit win games if called upon and actually has some upside as well?