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As a precursor to free agency and the NFL Draft, we are going to take a look at each position on the Detroit Lions roster. We begin the series with a look at the Lions' quarterbacks.
Under contract: Matthew Stafford (2017)
Free agents: Dan Orlovsky (UFA), Kellen Moore (RFA)
The only stable spot on the depth chart at quarterback is the top one. Matthew Stafford has been the Lions' starter since he entered the league in 2009, and he's going to continue to be the starter going forward. The Lions really need him to elevate his game, but I suppose you could say that about the offense as a whole.
There's some uncertainty behind Stafford because both Dan Orlovsky and Kellen Moore are set to become free agents. The expectation is that Moore will be re-signed at some point even though he likely won't be tendered as a restricted free agent, but it's unclear if he would remain the third-string quarterback or have an opportunity to compete for the backup job.
Speaking of the backup job, it's unclear if the Lions are planning on bringing back Orlovsky to fill that role. The Lions could certainly use a boost in talent at that spot, but that may be tough to pull off given the nature of the quarterback market.
Need going forward?
First things first, the Lions need to figure out what they're going to do with their No. 2 quarterback spot. Re-signing Moore and letting him compete for that role would be wise, but it would be nice to have a veteran in the mix as well. I suppose the Lions could even opt to draft a quarterback if they really want to invest in a solid backup for Stafford.
Whatever ends up happening, the Lions simply need some depth with only Stafford under contract for 2015. It's possible that Tajh Boyd could be signed in the near future considering he recently worked out for the Lions, and I suppose a combination of Boyd and Moore would be a good start from a depth standpoint. There would still be a need for more talent behind Stafford, though, and that's something the Lions will have to try to address this offseason.