Detroit Lions: 2016 is pivotal for Matthew Stafford
As the Detroit Lions prepare for the upcoming season, 2016 will be a pivotal year for quarterback Matthew Stafford to see if he’s the definitive answer going forward for the franchise.
As yet another NFL offseason is underway, the Detroit Lions are hoping for the best this upcoming season. Last year, they ended 7-9 in the NFC North which was second to last in the division. It was yet another season without an appearance in the NFL Playoffs except this time around, they lost one of their top franchise players when all was said and done.
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Wide receiver Calvin Johnson officially called it quits after easily being one of the top offensive players for the Lions the past nine years. His relationship with quarterback Matthew Stafford turned them into quite the dynamic duo but now with “Megatron” hanging up his cleats, Stafford now has to do his best to prove he can still be the franchise quarterback the Lions need for the future.
This upcoming season will be huge for Stafford to see if he can continue lighting up the scoreboard or prove that maybe he should be dealt to another team willing to give up a lot for his services. Stafford is still a high-profile quarterback but during big games or key moments in delivering, he falters when it matters most.
Make no mistake about it, the Lions are clearly in a rebuilding mode. Perhaps this is the year the Lions’ brass takes one hard look at Stafford and see how he delivers without his favorite weapon on offense. While the Lions addressed some of their offensive line issues, all eyes will be on Stafford this season and if he doesn’t deliver, would be an enticing trade option for plenty of teams across the NFL looking for someone of his caliber.
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There is no questioning the heart or passion Stafford has but truth of the matter is the Lions lack the impact players on offense for him to not miss a beat with “Megatron” retiring.
But in a division featuring the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears, the Lions are on the outside looking in.
Everyone else in their division have gotten better and have cornerstones in place for continued success for many years from now.
Should Stafford post a lackluster season in 2016, his time might be up as he would definitely garner a big trade featuring players and draft picks. Both of which the Lions need to build for the future.
In such a situation, the Lions should be able to get a lot back for Stafford as they continue to build a roster worthy of pursuing a championship. It’ll be hard to aspire for such results this upcoming season since they’ve lost some key players.
There is hope that Stafford can continue the momentum he had from last season which wasn’t bad at all. In 2015, Stafford totaled 4,262 passing yards for 32 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
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Overall, for the Lions to stick with Stafford who is under contract until 2018, he’d have to prove he can handle everything possible from under center and turn those around him even better. Stafford has the talent to deliver but if he doesn’t in 2016, it might be time to entertain trading him for the overall benefit of a better future for the Lions.