The NFL world was met with quite a shocker when the news broke that quarterback Matthew Stafford had formally requested a trade from the Detroit Lions. With the team staring down another rebuild, it’s clear the 32-year old doesn’t want any part of it. He only has so many prime years left and would prefer to spend them trying to chase that Super Bowl title that has eluded him for over a decade now.
It’s a matter of figuring out where he’ll end up. Experts already have a shortlist of favorites. The Indianapolis Colts stand at the top. Philip Rivers just retired and they’re in need of a quarterback. San Francisco needs an upgrade over the hobbled Jimmy Garoppolo. New England continues searching for a true Tom Brady heir. Last but not least, Detroit’s former GM Martin Mayhew, the one who drafted Stafford, is now the GM in Washington.
So what about the Chicago Bears?
They have a pressing need at quarterback. Few teams know Stafford better from having played against him for years. They have a strong roster in place that just got done going 8-8 and sneaking into the playoffs. It feels like a good QB could finally push them into the Super Bowl contender conversation. Would they make an attempt to convince the Lions to make a deal?
According to a source, they are indeed at least inquiring about it. They called Detroit asking for details about what the team is looking for in terms of compensation. Are they doing this with the firm belief a deal could happen? That is hard to say. However, GM Ryan Pace can’t afford to not at least place a phone call. There is no harm in asking. Sometimes one might be surprised by the response.
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Matthew Stafford isn’t likely to happen for the Bears
Not because they wouldn’t be willing to pay the sizable price to get him though. It’s more the fact that Detroit won’t have any desire to send a capable quarterback to a division rival. Such things are exceedingly rare. The two most prominent examples are when New England traded Drew Bledsoe to Buffalo and Philadelphia traded Donovan McNabb to Washington. In both cases, the trading teams already had their next QBs in places. The Patriots had Tom Brady and Eagles had Michael Vick.
Such is not the case with Detroit. Their next QB on the roster is Chase Daniel. All the Lions have is the 7th overall pick. Expectations are they’ll be chasing a quarterback in the 1st round this April. Perhaps even using the ammunition acquired in the Matthew Stafford trade to move up. It feels like the only way Chicago can convince them to make a deal is by making an offer they can’t refuse.
As desperate as the Bears are, that doesn’t feel likely.
A QB on the back nine of his NFL career isn’t somebody a team should sell out for. That is why it’s believed Deshaun Watson is the primary target for Pace and head coach Matt Nagy. Calling Detroit about Stafford is a fact-finding mission more than anything else. They want a complete picture of the quarterback market. Who is available and who isn’t. Then they’ll be able to form a plan of action.