Detroit Lions: 10 Players Who Could Be Gone in 2017

Dan Orlovsky

Jake Rudock wasn’t able to beat out Dan Orlovsky for number two duties this season but there are plenty of reasons to pencil him in that spot next season. The writing started going on the wall when the Lions drafted Rudock last spring, but it became even more clear that they have bigger plans for him when they signed him to the active roster to avoid another team signing him from their practice squad.

With Rudock clearly in the plans for next season, Orlovsky is likely on his way out. It shouldn’t be a surprise if the Lions add another young quarterback in the offseason. Bob Quinn outlined his philosophy for adding quarterback prior to the 2016 NFL Draft:

"I think it’s really good football business to acquire a young quarterback every year or every other year. There’s such a value in the position and nowadays in college football there’s a lot of spread offenses, which means it’s a lot different than pro football. So it takes these young quarterbacks time to develop. So if you can add a young quarterback every year or every other year to your roster, it’s good football business in my mind. So you have time to develop them, either on the practice squad or as a backup, before eventually them having to play in a game."

That doesn’t guarantee another quarterback will be drafted but it certainly leaves it up for consideration. That’s especially given the fact that Martin Mayhew never drafted a quarterback in any round after making Matthew Stafford his first pick. Rudock may or may not be a long-term backup so another young quarterback makes sense. Either way, Orlovsky’s time as the primary backup has come and gone.