5 options to upgrade the Detroit Lions backup quarterback situation

The Detroit Lions seem content with their backup quarterback situation, but here are five options who could become available as an easy upgrade.

It was a foregone conclusion the Detroit Lions were going to run in back with Jared Goff as their starting quarterback this year. A strong finish to 2021 can hopefully carry into and through 2022,  with better talent and better structure around him.

Even as the idea the Lions would draft a quarterback this year faded, where there was room for other ideas on the quarterback depth chart behind Goff. But instead, Tim Boyle and David Blough were brought back with seemingly little consideration for other options that were out there. The list of free agent veteran quarterbacks is never deep, as teams that have one they like do what it takes to keep him long-term, but upgrades on one or both of Boyle and Blough would not have been hard to find.

Boyle started three games in Goff’s place last season, and the Lions went 0-3 in those games. The overriding angle from this corner is two of those would have been wins if Boyle was a credible NFL quarterback. Blough made five starts when Matthew Stafford was sidelined in 2019, and the Lions went 0-5 in those games.

The Lions seem resigned to having Boyle and Blough continue to battle it out for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart in training camp. But it wouldn’t have to be that way, as other teams shuffle their signal caller depth charts over the course of camp and the preseason–or even between now and the start of training camp.

Focused on trades, here are five quarterbacks who would be a natural upgrade to the Lions’ backup quarterback situation. The term “backup” is meant in its strictest sense, so no Baker Mayfield or Jimmy Garoppolo on this list.

5 potential options for the Detroit Lions to upgrade their backup quarterback situation

In four appearances and three starts for the Jets last season, his first NFL regular season action, White had the expected ups (405 yards against the Bengals in Week 8) and downs (four interceptions against the Bills in Week 10). Ultimately his status as a brief folk hero for Jets’ fans faded to a negative touchdown-to-interception ratio (five touchdowns and eight picks) and a 75.1 passer rating.

White, as a nod to play calling and knowing his own limitations, peppered Jets’ running backs with targets. In his two full games, Michael Carter had 31 targets and over the four games White played in at all Carter had 55 targets. If White became a Lion and had to play, he’d have one of the best pass-catching backs in the league in D’Andre Swift to check down to.

The Jets may carry three quarterbacks on their final 53, but they brought back Joe Flacco to be Zach Wilson’s backup and veteran mentor. Trading White for a late-round pick, or just cutting him and going with someone else as their No. 3 quarterback, feels possible. The Lions should have some level of interest, even if it’s just to install White as their own No. 3 signal caller right off the bat.