Can Lions take advantage of Matthew Stafford?

We are already nine years into the career of Matthew Stafford, and the Detroit Lions have absolutely nothing to show for it. They are yet to win a playoff game in his tenure. Despite a trio of postseason appearances, they have never managed to win the NFC North.

Stafford, 30, is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. He’s not in the elite category where Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees reside. Although he belongs alongside names such as Philip Rivers, Matt Ryan and Russell Wilson.

Even with a non-existent rushing attack during his career — the Detroit Lions have produced exactly one 1,000-yard rushes. They have never finished in the top half of the league during Stafford’s career — the former No. 1 overall pick has produced. The University of Georgia product has thrown for 34,749 yards and 216 touchdowns against 118 interceptions. He has done his part and then some in the quest for success in Motown.

This year, Stafford will play for his third head coach. Following the ousting of Jim Caldwell, the Lions hired former New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. It hoped to bring a new voice and different results. Patricia, 43, hasn’t gotten much help from the front office this offseason. Only the tagging of Ezekiel Ansah has been anything to speak of. The additions of tight end Luke Willson, running back LeGarrette Blount and nose tackle Sylvester Williams are fine, but the onus remains on a core we’ve seen in years past to find their way under new direction.

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All of this leads back to Stafford. At 30 years old, the signal-caller remains in the prime of his career, and he has ample weapons on the outside and a solid offensive line. The real question is whether the running game can provide support for Stafford, and if the defense can show improvement.

In 2017, the Detroit Lions ranked 27th in total defense, headlined by a pass defense that also checked in at 27th. With Darius Slay and Glover Quin roaming in the secondary, Patricia must find ways to strengthen that unit. Perhaps this will be the focus of Detroit’s first-round pick, where men like Josh Jackson could help in an immediate, significant way.

Wasting Stafford’s career to this point is nothing short of a cardinal sin by football standards. A franchise quarterback doesn’t often come along, and the Lions haven’t been able to capitalize. If something doesn’t change soon, Detroit will be wondering what could have been, all while looking for the next talent such as Stafford’s to come through town.