From Matthew Stafford to Trevor Lawrence? Detroit Lions trade cost

Detroit Lions trade example, 2004

The other trade that the Detroit Lions can look at that did work out for the team that executed it, a little longer ago, involved the New York Giants and the San Diego Chargers (when the Chargers were still in San Diego).  This trade is much closer to what the Detroit Lions would be attempting to accomplish if they wanted to make it happen.

Eli Manning was the number one prospect coming out in the 2004 NFL Draft in most people’s minds but there were a couple of other options that people thought were on his heels, Philip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger.

Manning had the pedigree, the production, and everything that NFL teams wanted. The drama of the draft aside which isn’t the topic here, Manning was drafted No.1 by the Chargers and then traded to the Giants who had selected Philip Rivers with their No.4 pick.

Essentially, trading the fourth pick to move up to the first pick, the Giants got Eli Manning and eventually two Super Bowl rings, although Manning and the Giants had great defense during their two championship wins.

The Chargers got Rivers, a third-round pick (No.65), a 2005 first-round pick(No.12), and a 2005 fifth-round pick (No.144). Both teams liked the trade but the haul that the Chargers got does say something about future assets.

That is another topic for another day…

The question for the Detroit Lions is, “Is there a ‘Philip Rivers‘ in the 2021 draft, for this scenario to happen?” We think there could be. The Jacksonville Jaguars hired former Ohio State and Florida head coach, Urban Meyer, as their head coach going into 2021.

What do we know about him….Hmmm?