Friday open thread: Should the Lions ask for a quarterback in return for Matthew Stafford?

It still feels surreal to say, but Matthew Stafford looks set to move on from the Detroit Lions (or is it the other way around?). Regardless, the Lions will need to find a new franchise quarterback for the first time in over a decade, though there are plenty of different routes to get there.

A lot will depend on what a trade of Stafford will net in return. Given his current skill level and the demand in the market, a first-round pick is the minimum, and the new Detroit front office should be able to get a decent secondary piece or two as well from whatever deal it ultimately chooses.

Today’s Question of the Day is:

Should the Lions ask for a quarterback in return for Matthew Stafford?

My answer:

I think the answer to this one is pretty clear, and it needs to be ‘no.’ Sure, there are a few reasonable options out there. Deshaun Watson is the obvious top prize, but someone like Jimmy Garoppolo or Tua Tagovailoa would be intriguing as well. If the Lions were set on reloading instead of rebuilding, any of these options could be considered as returns.

However, that is not where the Detroit organization stands right now. This team needs a full-blown rebuild and that can only happen through the draft. Getting a veteran quarterback will a) take picks away from the Stafford return and b) hinder the rebuild in 2021. So while it could be tempting to simply swap signal callers, this would be a huge mistake by the Lions.