NFL Insider believes Matthew Stafford could be traded before Super Bowl

The Detroit Lions, like every other NFL team, spent this past week at the Senior Bowl. Without the benefit of a Scouting Combine this offseason, the Senior Bowl practices have become the main focus for scouting prospects entering the 2021 NFL Draft in April.

But a little-known side effect of these teams all being huddled together in Mobile, Alabama is some of the discussions being had behind the scenes. In the case of the Lions, potential trade talks surrounding their longtime quarterback, Matthew Stafford.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Stafford had approached the Lions about trading him this offseason. And Detroit has agreed to seek a trade as long as they can get fair market value in exchange. And the team has reportedly received a good amount of interest, and those discussions presumably have continued this past week at the Senior Bowl.

So much so, in fact, one NFL insider believes that an announcement about a future trade for Stafford could be made before the Super Bowl, which is set to kick off on Sunday, February 7. Here’s what Albert Breer of the MMQB told Dan Patrick during an interview on the Dan Patrick Show on Friday.

"“I believe Matthew Stafford could get moved before the Super Bowl … The trade market for Matthew Stafford over the last week in Mobile at the Senior Bowl, I think talks have really escalated on Matthew Stafford. And I think it would be smart of the Lions to do this now.”"

Breer went on to explain that the Lions could get in front of all the quarterback movement expected to happen this offseason by providing security for a team looking to lock down the position before the flurry of moves happens.

As for a potential trade partner emerging. a report by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Friday indicated that sources told him Stafford considers the Los Angeles Rams as a viable contender in his trade market. While the Lions are expected to pursue a trade with the team that gives them the best deal, Stafford’s influence on where he gets to land is currently unknown.

While Detroit will obviously do what’s best for the future of the franchise, giving Stafford a voice in those trade talks would certainly honor his past commitment to the Motor City over the last 13 years. And if there’s an opportunity to make both the team and exiting player happy, you have to believe it will be a consideration.

Especially a player of Stafford’s status, who figures to have a long-lasting relationship with the Lions and the city of Detroit long after he stops playing football. The recent additions of former players like linebacker Chris Spielman and running back Barry Sanders in the team’s hiring search for a new general manager and head coach perfectly illustrate the importance of maintaining those relationships post-retirement.

So connecting the dots, we have Albert Breer believing trade talks have heated up to the point where Matthew Stafford could be moved as early as next week. And we have a report from Jeremy Fowler indicating that the Los Angeles Rams are believed to be a favorable landing spot for the Lions’ veteran passer.

But as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk explains, the Rams’ lack of a first-round pick in 2021 and quarterback Jared Goff’s massive contract are major obstacles to a potential trade for Stafford getting done.

Only time will tell if these reports actually bear any fruit, but how does the old saying go? Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.