Matthew Stafford reportedly ‘likes Indianapolis better than any other’
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According to 710 ESPN Seattle’s John Clayton on 107.5 The Fan’s ‘The Ride with JMV’, he’s hearing that the Indianapolis Colts may very well be the preferred trade destination of recently made available Detroit Lions franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford:
“Indianapolis. That’s the team from what I gather Matthew Stafford likes,” Clayton said on Wednesday. “He likes it better than any other.” “So, I think he’s kind of in the same mind as Jim Irsay and also he knows Jacob Eason, because they both have some roots in Georgia. Not as far as where Stafford grew up, but I think right now the worry you have is Carolina going to make a big offer? I don’t know if they’ll give up the 8th pick in the draft. Washington has the 19th pick in the first round, and they’re going to be in the bidding. San Francisco is going to be in the bidding.” “I know I said it was going to be Washington because I think they have more clout right now than the Colts, but I think ultimately Stafford has a great chance to come to Indianapolis.”
The former first overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft is fresh off another productive season in which he completed 339 of 528 pass attempts (64.2%) for 4,084 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and a passer rating of 96.3 during all 16 starts.
The Lions’ all-time leading franchise passer ranks first in career completions (3,898), first in passing yards (45,109), and first in touchdowns (282) respectively.
He’s made 165 starts for Detroit over his 12-year career.
At 6’3”, 220 pounds, featuring a cannon of an arm and some mobility, Stafford would provide the Colts a dynamic upgrade at the starting quarterback position for the 2021 season and going forward—as the soon-to-be 33 year old figures to have at least a handful of highly productive seasons still left.
With an incredibly live arm, Stafford can make the type of big-time throws that can simply win football games—with the unique ability to fit footballs through tight windows, rifle it past opposing coverage, or execute athletic throws (and from altered platforms) while under pressure or duress.
He consistently wasn’t surrounded with a strong supporting cast in Detroit—as he largely lacked a reliable running game, strong offensive line, and competent defense to back him up respectively.
Stafford should get all three facets upgraded in Indianapolis—while also playing in Colts head coach Frank Reich’s quarterback-friendly offense. He could very well see an uptick in production while playing for a more well-rounded Indianapolis team.
There’s no denying the ideal fit right now between both Stafford and the Colts—and the timing is quite perfect to say the least regarding Indianapolis’ suddenly vacant quarterback opening on a ‘built to win now’, potential Super Bowl contender.
It’s just a matter of whether the Colts can beat out the expected heavy competition among Stafford’s other potential trade suitors—with ultimately the winning offer of draft picks—which the price isn’t projected to be cheap.
Colts: Latest Matthew Stafford report adds even more fuel to fire
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The Colts and quarterback Matthew Stafford seem to have mutual interest in one another.
When Philip Rivers announced his retirement, it confirmed that the Indianapolis Colts would have their fifth opening day starter in as many years in 2021. Considering how unprecedented that is in the NFL, it’s incredibly impressive that they’ve managed to stay relevant during that span.
That, of course, is a testament to GM Chris Ballard’s ability to build a roster, and Indy will once again be counting on him to work his magic this offseason. With the team in desperate need of a franchise-caliber quarterback, they figure to be major players in the Matthew Stafford sweepstakes after he formally requested a trade out of Detroit this past weekend.
Since then, we’ve heard reports that Stafford was eyeing the Colts, and seemingly every insider and analyst in the business has stated reasons why such a marriage would make sense for both parties.
Well, another compelling rumor can be thrown into the mix now, as John Clayton of 710 ESPN Seattle is hearing that Stafford not only fancies Indianapolis as a trade destination, but prefers them more than any other team vying for his services.
Per John Clayton, ‘Colts are the Team Matthew Stafford Likes . . . He Likes Indianapolis Better than Any Other’ https://t.co/NcB2wyRyH4 pic.twitter.com/CyEI1RwPqH — Stampede Blue (@StampedeBlue) January 28, 2021
“Indianapolis. That’s the team from what I gather Matthew Stafford likes,” said Clayton. “He likes it better than any other.” “So, I think he’s kind of in the same mind as Jim Irsay and also he knows Jacob Eason, because they both have some roots in Georgia. Not as far as where Stafford grew up, but I think right now the worry you have is Carolina going to make a big offer? I don’t know if they’ll give up the 8th pick in the draft. Washington has the 19th pick in the first round, and they’re going to be in the bidding. San Francisco is going to be in the bidding.” “I know I said it was going to be Washington because I think they have more clout right now than the Colts, but I think ultimately Stafford has a great chance to come to Indianapolis.”
That’s what we like to hear, though we’re not entirely sure that we agree with the notion that Washington “has more clout” than Indy or is the more appealing landing spot. While they no doubt have a bright future, the Colts’ roster is deeper on both sides of the ball and is clearly a star quarterback away from being able to compete for a championship. We’re not so sure you can say the same about the Football Team, but that’s a discussion for another day.
Frankly, with Deshaun Watson now available via trade, I’d think that helps the Colts’ chances to acquire Matthew Stafford (assuming they want to). Another elite QB is now out there for teams to chase, and Watson immediately becomes the top prize. — Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) January 28, 2021
With all this in mind, it’s easy to see why Stafford would desire a trade to Indianapolis over any of the reported competing teams like Washington, Carolina and San Francisco. Unlike those organizations, the Colts have front office stability, the right head coach in place, a potent rushing attack, and a budding defense that’s yet to reach its potential.
At some point over the last 12 years, Stafford has encountered all four elements with Detroit, but never at the same time, let alone a multi-year stretch. Indy’s championship window is firmly open for business and isn’t closing anytime soon, and you better believe that Stafford had that in mind when he met with the Lions’ front office to inform them that it was time for him to move on.
NFL Rumors: Colts May Be Preferred Destination For Matthew Stafford As Competition Heats Up
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The Indianapolis Colts may have the inside edge in the race for Matthew Stafford, with ESPN’s John Clayton saying that the longtime Detroit Lions starter may prefer a move to the AFC South team.
Stafford had reportedly asked Detroit for a trade that would allow him to have a fresh start with a new franchise, and the organization has gone along with his wish and started the process of listening to trade offers. While there have been close to a dozen teams named as potential partners, Clayton said he believes that Stafford may prefer the Colts over all other suitors.
During an appearance on The Ride with JMV, Clayton said that Stafford’s existing connections to some major figures within the organization may give the Colts an edge, though other teams may come in with strong offers as well.
“So, I think he’s kind of in the same mind as [Colts owner] Jim Irsay and also he knows [rookie quarterback] Jacob Eason, because they both have some roots in Georgia,” he said, via the SB Nation blog Stampede Blue. “Not as far as where Stafford grew up, but I think right now the worry you have is Carolina going to make a big offer? I don’t know if they’ll give up the 8th pick in the draft. Washington has the 19th pick in the first round, and they’re going to be in the bidding. San Francisco is going to be in the bidding.”
There are other insiders who have pegged different teams as having a leg up in the Stafford sweepstakes. As The Inquisitr reported, the San Francisco 49ers have also been seen as a candidate that potentially has an inside track. Sports Illustrated cited a league insider who believed that San Francisco would be a top contender, though it wasn’t clear if the team would be able to top other potential offers or if Stafford pegged the franchise as a preferred destination.
“He most likely would love their head coach, Kyle Shanahan, plus their star players such as George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, but probably wouldn’t love the California state taxes,” the source told the outlet.
This comes amid reports that the 49ers may be ready to move on from Jimmy Garoppolo if they can score an upgrade, just one year after he led the team to a Super Bowl appearance.
Whoever the trade partner turns out to be, the Lions are expected to fetch a top price for Stafford, with many insiders saying they will likely get a first-round draft selection and package of other picks.