NFL Trade Machine: Matthew Stafford to the Cincinnati Bengals

It’s been some time since the NFL trade machine was in action but now feels right with the meat of the offseason right around the corner.

What better way to get it started than with a quarterback and not the one everybody expected too. Matthew Stafford is in somewhat of a weird bubble at the moment with the Detroit Lions. He’s unquestionably the most productive passer they’ve ever had and still capable of being really good under center. However, it became clear last season that he doesn’t seem to mesh quite well in the system new head coach Matt Patricia wants.

Keep in mind Patricia is the third head coach Stafford is on in his career. GM Bob Quinn also isn’t the man who drafted him either. Neither of the two most important men at the top has any sorts of personal investment in him. They retained him because of his talent of course but also because ownership insisted as much. However, after another losing season, it’s fair to wonder if Patricia and Quinn might be starting to think it’s time for a change.

Trade to Cincinnati in QB swap could benefit both teams and Stafford

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Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free press stated back in January the Lions should consider trading Stafford to the Denver Broncos. The idea was for two key reasons. It gave them a window to possibly add a marquee pass rusher (Von Miller) and also enable the Lions to get a quarterback more befitting the type of offense they want to run.

"“The stars could align for a trade that works out well for both teams. The Broncos need a quarterback. The Lions need an edge rusher, and though general manager Bob Quinn believes Stafford could win a Super Bowl in Detroit, he could easily find another quarterback to fit Matt Patricia’s careful, balanced, ball-control offense……The Lions don’t need a gunslinger like Stafford to run their hum-drum offense. It’s like asking a Ferrari to tow an apple cart in first gear. Stafford needs to open the throttle. He’s a stallion that needs to run free. Maybe even a Bronco set loose in greener pastures.”"

Denver has since gone the cheaper route by trading for Joe Flacco instead. That doesn’t mean the options are gone. Detroit could absolutely find options elsewhere. So here’s an idea. How about sending Stafford to the Cincinnati Bengals for Andy Dalton and a 1st round pick?

Here’s why it could prove beneficial for all parties.

Stafford would go to a team being run by new head coach Zac Taylor, a former quarterbacks coach. He’d want to run the game through that position. Stafford would have two proven receivers at his disposal in A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd. The Bengals get the more talented passer they’ve been itching to find for years.

On the Lions side, they get back a veteran QB in Dalton who’s proven capable of running a run-first offense. He’s considerably cheaper than Stafford, which frees up cap space and the 1st round pick that comes with him would give Detroit the 8th and 11th picks in the draft. Odds are they could easily upgrade their pass rush with that.

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