At this point, it remains unclear if the Detroit Lions organization will decide to bring back star quarterback Matthew Stafford for 2021. The former first overall pick will be 33 next season, and while he remains in contract with the Lions, there has been some talk about a possible trade away from Detroit. Newly-appointed team general manager Brad Holmes sheds some light on this matter.
Holmes had nothing but good things to say about Stafford, but at the same time, he acknowledged how the Lions will be keeping its options open over the offseason (h/t Chris Burke of The Athletic):
Brad Holmes says Matthew Stafford is a "great player, and what you really appreciate … is how his intangibles show on film."
But he also made clear that he and the new coach need to evaluate this entire roster and talk to the players, so he wouldn't commit to anything.
— Chris Burke (@ChrisBurkeNFL) January 19, 2021
In the midst of another disappointing season, the Lions made some major changes in the front office, including the appointment of Holmes as the new GM. They also parted ways with former coach Matt Patricia and are still currently in search of a new head coach. As Holmes stated above, the new man at the helm — whoever that ends up being — will have a significant say on Stafford's future with the squad.
Stafford had a noteworthy campaign with the Lions, finishing the season with a respectable 4,084 yards and 26 touchdowns. The one-time Pro-Bowler also logged 10 interceptions on an average of 7.7 yards per attempt. Stafford managed these numbers despite battling through a myriad of injuries throughout the campaign, as well as being without star wide receiver Kenny Golladay for a significant part of the season.
Stafford is no spring chicken, and he is now entering the twilight of his career. You can't help but think that at this point in his career, he needs to be with a team that can actually contend for a playoff spot. Whether or not that will be the Lions remains to be seen.
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