rao wrote:
Shotty wrote:
The Legend wrote:
Shotty wrote:
DisgruntledFan wrote:
Short of a miracle, I don't see This core of players making it to a Super Bowl. There is talent here (as evident by last year) but the Oline is terrible, the secondary still needs help, the DLine needs help, and when you install an all new scheme on both sides of the ball it will be too late for the team to make that push while Calvin Johnson is in his prime, or while Stafford is still under his current contract.
I say you let the next GM (provided he IS a good hire and not just a classic Lions internal promotion) approach Calvin and get a real feel for his desire to stay on this team and ride out the rebuild figuratively until he retires ringless and broken hearted like Barry, or you ask him if he's willing to renegotiate his contract to make it more cap and trade friendly. Send him to the Panthers or the Patriots, or some other team that might get him a ring before he really hangs it up, and get the most value you can out of him. We did Barry wrong and squandered his career, do Calvin a favor and set him free if he wants to win a championship somewhere else.
As for Stafford, it's foolish to cut him or trade him before the start of the 2016 season, but I think they do need to draft REAL COMPETITION this season. I'm not saying take Cook of Golf with the 1st overall pick, but take a LT and then take a QB no later then Rd 3 and make Stafford earn his job. If he can't, then give it to the rookie and cut Stafford after 2016. I still think Stafford has talent and COULD turn it around with a better Oline and an OC that designs an offense around his strengths, but they have overpaid Stafford enough already and to extend him again with another huge contract after 2017 would be insane. If he doesn't take a big leap forward, they need to move on.
I'm for trading him after season's end. We won't save as much on the cap, but will get at least a 2nd round pick by the sounds of rumors regarding a potential trade.
That kind of return doesnt make sense. Starting QBs rarely become available in free agency - meaning there isnt one available every year. Sure you can get a journeyman like Ryan Fitzpatrick or Brian Hoyer or maybe get lucky and have someone like Tyrod Taylor really fit your system but none of those types are really long term answers.
So, if the Lions let Stafford go for a 2nd round pick right now they are essentially selling on 2016 and committing to drafting a 1st rd QB with this next high pick. They would still have to pay the first rounder and would probably need to bring in a backup better than Orlovsky. Add in Stafford s dead money from trading him and you are probably paying more at QB next season. Not to mention that if Stafford is being dealt, you might as well be dealing Johnson and Tate also because there wont be much winning going on.
If the return is more along the lines of a 1st round pick + a 3rd round pick that might be more reasonable but Im more firmly in the camp that hopes the new GM takes the $30 mill in cap space to try and make smart moves that makes this team competitive immediately but maintain some flexibility in future years. The Lions already have a lot of draft picks for next season to infuse younger, cheaper talent. They can even draft a QB in the first 2 rounds behind Stafford. Dont forget that top pick can net a solid return if you re willing to slide back a few spots.
IMO there doesn't need to be an automatic replacement. Grab a guy in the 3rd or 4th this coming draft and have him battle with a few vets for the spot. Build the team thoroughly and a QB will eventually be found if the GM is competent. Think 2011 49ers. They got Kaep in the 2nd round and he eventually took over a mega-talented team and took them all the way. There was a system around him and a coach who eased him in perfectly. Look at him now on a Lions-like roster and a former DL coach making game-plans. The HC and GM play an enormous role in QB development/production.
Not to mention, a competent GM also has a good chance of grabbing a productive player with the pick(s) we get.
The 49ers still had their 1st round QB while they groomed Kaep. He didn't battle it out with some vets, Alex Smith started to finally look like a starting quality QB then got injured and replaced. If the 49ers situation proves anything, it's that the Lions should keep Stafford until they have another QB prove himself a worthy starter.
The situation may have played out differently if they hadn't won 13 games the season prior. Why switch the QB, then? It really stems down to if you believe that your QB can win a Super Bowl. I personally don't think Staff could accomplish that feat while still making mental mistakes (I'm referring to the ones when he has an OK pocket and has made bad throws resulting in picks). He's going to be into his 8th season, I think 7 seasons is enough to gauge a fair outlook of a player and what they'll provide in the future.
I just don't want to keep him, have another QB eventually take over, and lose Staff with no return.
Statistics: Posted by Shotty — November 13th, 2015, 6:36 pm