3 reasons Matthew Stafford could be done in Detroit

1. The Last Ride?

Stafford is currently under contract in Detroit through 2023. It could very well be the last contract of his professional career, especially considering the injuries that have been piling up in recent years.

NFL quarterbacks playing into their 40’s like Tom Brady (43) and Drew Brees (41) are exceedingly rare. In fact, as of 2018, only 20 QBs in NFL history had done so.

Granted, Stafford will turn just 33-years old next month. Yet, the odds are stacked against him playing seven more seasons. Although, I wouldn’t bet against the gritty Stafford doing so.

The point here is Stafford’s time in the NFL is likely winding down, and I think it’s safe to assume he’s in the back half of his career. As we’ve mentioned before, is he willing to go through yet another rebuild and regime change? Does he have the time left to do so?

As Stafford demonstrated in the final game of the season against the Minnesota Vikings, playing despite dealing with multiple injuries and it being an all but meaningless Week 17 contest, this captain is willing to go down with the ship. But should he?

There are certainly fans who are desperate to see Matthew Stafford finally make a playoff run in Detroit. But if this is perhaps the 12-year NFL veteran’s last handful of seasons in the NFL, and considering another rebuild is now underway in Detroit, might Stafford have better odds of finding that success and securing his legacy elsewhere? The answer is most likely yes.