49ers, possible Stafford trade suitors for Lions' star QB
Shortly after the 49ers wrapped up their 6-10 season, general manager John Lynch emphasized the organization’s plan to have Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback for the 2021 season.He and coach Kyle Shanahan were on the same page, Lynch said.“Kyle and I both have spoken and spoken fairly directly as to the fact that we expect Jimmy to be our quarterback and that's consistently met with other stories,” Lynch said.Here's one of those other stories.There is the possible availability of young superstar Deshaun Watson, who reportedly wants out of the dysfunctional Houston Texans organization.The 49ers have someone else to consider, too.The Detroit Lions and quarterback Matthew Stafford have mutually agreed to part ways, according to multiple reports on Saturday. The Lions are seeking trade offers for Stafford.But if the 49ers are interested, they certainly will not be alone.Here are some teams that figure to be interested in acquiring Stafford, a 12-year veteran who turns 33 on Super Bowl Sunday:
2020 record: 11-5, AFC wild card
QBs under contract: Jacob Eason
2021 draft capital: Nos. 21, 54, 84
Philip Rivers announced his retirement after a remarkable 17-year career. Jacoby Brissett, the backup, is an unrestricted free agent. He's not the answer, anyway.
The Colts are ready to win. They do not have the draft picks to ensure selecting a first-year starter, so they must acquire a veteran to step in and immediately win games.
The Colts have plenty of salary cap space to take on Stafford’s contract. There would not seem to be any way the Texans would even consider trading Watson to a division rival, so the Colts could go all-in to add Stafford.
2020 record: 7-9, first in NFC East
QBs under contract: Alex Smith, Steven Montez
2021 draft capital: Nos. 19, 51, 74, 82
Smith was one of the great stories of the 2020 NFL season. But he is certainly not the future with Washington. Is he worth $19 million in salary and bonuses? If Washington moves on, the team would free up $14 million in cap space.
Also, it seems reasonable that Smith, having accomplished the unthinkable of a comeback to again play in the league, will move on to the next phase of his life.
Coach Ron Rivera and new GM Martin Mayhew, over from the 49ers, have more top-100 draft picks than the Colts to include in any trade package.
2020 record: 7-9, third in AFC East
QBs under contract: Jarrett Stidham
2021 draft capital: Nos. 15, 46, 96
Nobody was talking this season about the genius of Bill Belichick. That’s because Tom Brady was off to Tampa Bay. Brady left, and so did the Patriots’ winning ways.
There is no reason for the Patriots to bring back Cam Newton. He and Brian Hoyer are free agents. Stidham is the only quarterback the club currently has under contract.
The Patriots have to do something to get a veteran quarterback, unless they want to invest a season in Stidham, a fourth-round pick from 2019. That does not seem like a winning formula.
2020 record: 5-11, last in AFC West
QBs under contract: Drew Lock, Jeff Driskel, Brett Rypien
2021 draft capital: Nos. 9, 40, 71
General manager George Paton comes in after 14 seasons in the NFC North with the Minnesota Vikings. He has seen a lot of Stafford through the years.
Coach Vic Fangio is back for another season. Fangio does not have any time to waste, and it seems unlikely he will want to stick with Lock, a second-round pick in 2019. Lock might be the worst primary starting quarterback in the NFL.
Stafford would provide the Broncos with an opportunity to make a run at a wild-card berth next season.
2020 record: 5-11, third in NFC South
QBs under contract: Teddy Bridgewater, P.J. Walker, Will Grier
2021 draft capital: Nos. 8, 39, 73
Bridgewater is under contract, but he is scheduled to make $18 million in salary and bonuses. Is he worth that? He completed 69.1 percent with 15 TDs and 11 interceptions this season.
Because of the big-money contract the Panthers doled out to Bridgewater last year, he would count $20 million in dead money while saving the team only $3 million on the cap if they moved on.
The Panthers’ best bet would be to keep their draft picks and select their next QB with the eighth overall selection.
2020 record: 6-10, last in NFC West
QBs under contract: Jimmy Garoppolo, Josh Johnson
2021 draft capital: Nos. 12, 43
Financially, this makes sense. If the 49ers were to move on from Garoppolo and take on Stafford’s contract, they would free up at least $4 million of cap space to invest elsewhere on the roster.
It seems unlikely the Lions would want to take on Garoppolo’s scheduled $25.5 million pay in a trade. The 49ers could look to trade Garoppolo elsewhere (Patriots?) or release him.
The balancing act for the 49ers is to consider how much of an upgrade Stafford would be over Garoppolo. Then, would the combination of Stafford’s arrival with the picks going to the Lions ultimately weaken the team?
Stafford's skills would provide Shanahan with more downfield potential. Shanahan's offense is predicated on running the ball effectively and using play-action to take deep shots down the field.
Stafford has thrown for more than 4,000 yards in eight of the past 10 seasons. The 49ers have not produced a 4,000-yard passer since Jeff Garcia in 2000.
