Former No. 1 overall pick Matthew Stafford has some of the best arm talent of any quarterback in the NFL. Stafford also has a knack for leading the Detroit Lions from behind, as he has 34 game-winning drives in his career.
Yet, the 32-year-old has a 69-79-1 record and he has made just one Pro Bowl. He is not exactly regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in football.
However, one executive believes Stafford would be one of the more accomplished signal-callers in the league if he did not have the apparent misfortune of playing for the Lions (via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN):
“‘It's the Stafford syndrome — he plays in Detroit, so he's not in a position to maximize his ability,' one NFC exec said via ESPN. ‘He's a major talent who'd probably be a top-five quarterback with an established franchise. He can score from anywhere on the field.'”
Stafford's value to the Lions was obvious to see during the 2019 season.
The former Georgia star went 3-4-1 in his first eight starts, but he also threw for nearly 2,500 yards and 19 touchdowns against just five interceptions. His 8.6 yards gained per pass attempt was the best mark of his career.
But Stafford was injured in a Week 8 loss to the Oakland Raiders. He would not play the rest of the season, and the Lions would go on to lose each of their next eight games.
Stafford will hope to prove his worth again in 2020.
The Lions added Jamie Collins and Danny Shelton to solidify the front seven this offseason, while also signing veteran cornerback Desmond Trufant and selecting Ohio State corner Jeff Okudah with the third overall pick.
With a revamped defense and a talented group of skill position players, the Lions figure to bounce back. But their season will largely depend on the health of their quarterback. Stafford still has time to prove Detroit isn't holding him back.
Follow Us
Subscribe