2021 NFL Draft: Five teams in the market for a mid-round quarterback
By Kyle Edmond
Detroit Lions
If the Detroit Lions want to make a culture shift, this might be the time to do it. Matthew Stafford has the option to opt-out of his contract at the end of the season, but the Lions don’t have any player to take over the role. If that’s the path they take, then the No. 7 pick could be used on a quarterback.
Even if they decide to stick with Stafford, then they should still consider a mid-round quarterback to backup Stafford and learn. The pick would need to have a lot of potential to possibly take over when Stafford steps away from the team. That could come earlier than some might think.
The first pick of the 2009 NFL Draft, Stafford will be entering his 13th season in 2021. On top of that, his contract expires at the end of the 2022 year with a void season in 2023. This means that the Lions could be without Stafford in three years regardless. With that possibility on the horizon, they need to start thinking about another option.
Chase Daniel has been a solid backup, but he doesn’t have the potential to be the long-term starter. If Stafford’s time in Detroit is coming to a close, then a potential starter is the route that the franchise needs to start moving towards in the backup quarterback role.