Similarly to the Detroit Pistons, the Lions have been stuck in purgatory for too long. They're not good enough to make the playoffs but not bad enough to get a top 5 pick until now. With the 3rd overall pick, the Lions have a tough choice to make. Because of the pressure from Martha Ford (owner), GM Bob Quinn and coach Matt Patricia have put the Lions in a win now mode which I think that is the wrong way to approach this and maybe they should go into rebuild mode.
The Lions have the opportunity of a lifetime right now with the 3rd overall pick. If the Lions decide to draft a QB, they could potentially trade Matthew Stafford to a QB needy team that are in a win now position such as the LA Chargers for their 6th overall pick (of course the Lions will need to give up more than Stafford but that is besides the point). This trade makes sense for the LA Chargers because they will have Stafford for at least 4 more years and they have the pieces necessary to make the playoffs and compete for the Super Bowl; they just need a QB. Matthew Stafford is not a bad QB whatsoever but I do believe he needs a change of environment to fully excel. He's been with the Detroit Lions for too long and it's time for a change for both sides so both can have a brighter future.
If this trade was made, the Lions would go into rebuild mode. With a brand new QB such as Tua Tagovailoa, the Lions will get a fresh new start. Tua will be able to grow alongside Kenny Golladay, Kerryon Johnson, and TJ Hockenson which could be deadly for years to come. For the defensive side of things, with the 6th overall pick, I would recommend them picking up a CB such as Jeff Okudah or a DT such as Javon Kinlaw. Furthermore, they could go with an OT to improve the offensive line if they wanted to go in that directly. The options are endless with the 6th pick.
However, all of this can only happen if the Redskins do not trade Haskins and select Tua. If they do, the most talented player in Chase Young will fall to the Lions and I would have no complaints. With all of the free agency moves already made by the Lions, they would be in a win-now position. Chase Young will instantly improve the defense tremendously and if injuries to star players such as Stafford and Kerryon don't take place, I think the Lions definitely have a chance to compete for the playoffs. However, a lot of that rests on Staffords shoulders because the Lions offense was unacceptable. For some reason, the Lions offense thinks its acceptable to stall and the other team eventually catches up. This can be seen in the season opener against the Cardinals (27-27 tie), the Green Bay Packers (23-22 L), the KC Chiefs (34-30 L), the Vikings (42-30 L), the Raiders (31-24 L). Even in the games they won, it was too close for comfort even though they had the lead going into the half. Stafford cannot stall in the second half and expect to win.
Only time (and the choices other teams make) will tell what the Lions will do. However, for too long the Lions have been in purgatory so either they should go into full rebuild mode or, if they get Chase Young, go into full competitor mode. Being a middle tier team is no longer acceptable.
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