7 possible replacements for Matthew Stafford in Detroit

First Round QB – 2021 NFL Draft

This would likely be the path the Lions follow if the team opted to move on from Matthew Stafford this offseason. Possessing the seventh overall selection in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Detroit is practically guaranteed to land one of the top quarterback prospects in this class.

The Lions could easily stand with the seventh overall pick and see which quarterback prospect falls to them. But if they want a specific passer, they might have to move up. But it would be costly. Moving up that high in the draft will likely mortgage the team’s future in some way, even though the team has a top pick to trade itself.

Yet, if you are going to trade away high-end draft picks, landing yourself a franchise quarterback for the next decade or more could be worth the risk. And it can be argued that this is the only position worth doing so for.

The quarterback prospects that are separating themselves as clear first-rounders include Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, Ohio State’s Justin Fields, BYU’s Zach Wilson, North Dakota State’s Trevor Lance, and Alabama’s Mac Jones.

There’s a very good chance one or more of these prospects falls to Detroit. And if the Lions elect to move on from Matthew Stafford this offseason, one of the above names will likely be his replacement.