The Detroit Lions and Matthew Stafford have mutually agreed to part ways, with the Lions needing to manufacture a trade involving the veteran quarterback. With Stafford being made available, at least five teams are willing to offer a first-round pick for him, per Peter King of NBC Sports and via JP Finlay of NBC Sports.
Peter King says at least 5 teams will likely offer at least a first-round pick to trade for Matt Stafford.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) January 28, 2021
When it comes to trading for a franchise quarterback, all discussions begin with first-round draft picks. While Stafford isn't a young option, he is still likely to command at least one first-round pick when he's inevitably traded by the Lions.
Article Continues BelowWhat it comes down to is what team is willing to part ways with a first-round pick for the experienced signal-caller. If there was a guess as to what five teams King is speaking about, the ones that make the most sense are the Denver Broncos, the San Francisco 49ers, the New England Patriots, the Washington Football Team, and the Indianapolis Colts.
Seeing that Matthew Stafford doesn't have a no-trade clause, the Lions could decide to trade him to the highest bidder. In that case, the Broncos would be the first team in the group listed above that would have a chance to make an offer for him as they hold the No. 9 overall selection in this year's draft.
On the other hand, though, Detroit could work with Matthew Stafford to find him an ideal fit due to his contributions to the organization in the past 12 seasons. Regardless of where he winds up, it's clear that there are at least a handful of teams that are willing to surrender first-round picks — and possibly more — for an opportunity to name Stafford their starting quarterback in 2021.