Lions preview: Matthew Stafford seeks payday, playoff breakthrough
Training camps are still in the distance, but USA TODAY Sports is providing five things you need to know about every team in the NFL to catch you up on the offseason. Today, the Detroit Lions ...
1. Matthew Stafford could soon be the NFL’s highest-paid QB
There have been preliminary talks on an extension, but no significant progress yet – which isn’t really surprising. So it remains possible Stafford, 29, plays out the remaining year on his contract for $16.5 million before anything gets done. He was playing some of his best football until a finger injury on his throwing hand hampered him during the team’s late-season slide in 2016. With the salary cap continuing to rise, Stafford has a case to surpass the Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck’s record $24.594 million average and three-year cash flow of $75 million. And unlike the Oakland Raiders’ Derek Carr or other young QBs coming up on new deals, Stafford is set financially thanks to the old rookie wage system. He can afford to wait for his price, depending how far he wants to push it.
2. Jim Caldwell’s contract is a mystery
Neither the team nor Caldwell, 62, has revealed whether he got an extension or his deal is still set to expire after this season. If it’s the latter, Caldwell is in a somewhat uncomfortable situation – a lame-duck coach despite a 27-21 record and two playoff appearances in three seasons, working under a GM who didn’t hire him. Speculation about Caldwell’s future has swirled since Quinn arrived last year and it’s only going to intensify. But if they make the playoffs again, would the Lions really let Caldwell go?
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3. Jarrad Davis can make an instant impact
The Lions’ top draft pick can play any linebacker spot, though the plan is to start him off in the middle, allowing Tahir Whitehead to move to the weak side. Davis can really run and figures to play all three downs. Former Florida teammate Teez Tabor, a second-round pick, could factor immediately, too, combining with free-agent addition D.J. Hayden to improve the cornerback depth chart behind standout Darius Slay. Taking those two high meant a pass rush that tied for 30th lasts season in sacks didn’t get much help, but there’s optimism Ziggy Ansah will be himself again after two high ankle sprains contributed to his drop-off in production last season.
4. Stafford may have his best protection unit
One year after using a first-round pick on left tackle Taylor Decker, the Lions upgraded the other side of the offensive line with guard T.J. Lang and tackle Rick Wagner – for less than what it would’ve cost to re-sign Riley Reiff (Minnesota Vikings) and Larry Warford (New Orleans Saints). That’s important for a pass-first team that has let Stafford get sacked an average of 42 times over the past three seasons and has weapons in the passing game when he has time to deliver. Among them: Golden Tate, Marvin Jones, Eric Ebron, Ameer Abdullah (who’s healthy after missing most of last season with a foot injury) and underrated subpackage back Theo Riddick.
5. They’re battling history
The Lions’ wild-card loss in January at Seattle made it nine playoff defeats in a row, the longest streak in NFL history. They haven’t made the playoffs in consecutive seasons since the mid-1990s, most recently dropping from 10-6 in 2011 to 4-12 in 2012 and from 11-5 in 2014 to 7-9 in 2015. A lot of factors go into that, but some organizational momentum would sure be nice.
Follow Tom Pelissero on Twitter @TomPelissero.
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