Once upon a time, and for decades really, the Detroit Lions were not a place where very many NFL careers thrived. On the contrary, it was often a place where careers were clung to, possibly when no other team was interested.
Success has obviously changed that equation in the Brad Holmes-Dan Campbell era, and the Lions are now a spot players choose to come to in free agency. And, in some sense, players can put their careers on a better track by becoming part of the culture in Detroit. Holmes and Campbell value that kind of intangible fit beyond an individual's talent.
While he has his detractors who are not going away, Jared Goff is not going anywhere as the Lions' starting quarterback anytime soon. He's under contract through 2028, with a possible path out of the deal after 2027. In a couple years, it's possible he gets a contract extension to extend his tenure in Detroit.
That being said, things can change quickly. The Lions can, and arguably should (within reason), attempt to cultivate a young quarterback behind Goff. The idea of doing that with Hendon Hooker didn't make sense from the start, and we know how that turned out.
Lions offered as spot to help a young quarterback resurrect his career
The Indianapolis Colts are a surprising 3-0 so far this season, as their decision to go with Daniel Jones as their starting quarterback is working very well.
But that doesn't totally obscure the fact the Colts have failed Anthony Richardson. When they took him fourth overall in the 2023 draft, they should have known he'd need development after just one full season a college starter. Injuries have gotten in the way, with 15 starts over his first two seasons, but the Colts have answered the idea he needs reps by replacing him.
It'd be hard to find a player in the NFL who needs a change of scenery more than Richardson right now. The Colts could keep him, in case Jones is injured or the ruby slipper falls off him at some point, but they would do well to be open to a trade. Based on raw tools, and a general "we can fix him" mentality that is common, there would hypothetically be multiple suitors for Richardson.
Mike Payton of AtoZ Sports thinks the Lions should be among the teams with interest in Richardson.
"Let me say right out front, this is Jared Goff’s football team, and it will remain Goff’s football team for a while now. He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the league, but if you think the Lions’ search for a premium backup quarterback and their quarterback of the future is over just because Hendon Hooker didn’t work out, you might be crazy."
"The Lions have the potential to have one of those things with Richardson. It could be their version of Patrick Mahomes, Jordan Love, or Aaron Rodgers. A guy who sits under the learning tree and learns for a while before he gets a chance to touch the field. Everyone knew that coming out of Florida, Richardson was a developmental project with big upside, but the Colts chose to rush him out there. They then benched him, put him back in, benched him again, and ultimately, he got hurt."
"In Detroit, he gets a chance to learn from Dan Campbell, John Morton, Mark Brunell, Marques Tuiasosopo, Kyle Allen, and even Jared Goff. There is just a wealth of quarterback knowledge to surround a young player with. Given that he’s still just 23 years old, the age at which many rookies will be eligible for next year’s draft, the Lions have time to build with him."
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Payton, with the idea they could draft a quarterback earlier than that while also anticipating the sentiment of it being considered too much, proposed the Lions giving up a 2026 fourth-round pick for Richardson.
If nothing else, in the right situation where he can develop properly even if he doesn't become the starter, Richardson could be cultivated into a tradeable asset while he's still barely older than an incoming draft class of quarterbacks.
They wouldn't be on of any list of top potential landing spots, but the Lions do make some level of sense as a spot where Richardson could resurrect his career. A move to bring him to Detroit lands as highly unlikely, but never say never when it comes to NFL business.