Detroit Lions position battles and roster breakdown: Quarterback
By Zac Snyder
Who is back
After beginning his career with two injury-plagued season, Matthew Stafford has been firmly fixed atop the Lions’ quarterback depth chart and the 2017 season will be no different. Stafford returns as the unquestioned starter and, entering the final year of his current contract, is likely on the verge of signing a mega deal that will keep him a Lions well into his thirties.
It may seem like Stafford has already been around forever, but he’s still just 29-years old despite the fact that he’s entering his ninth NFL season. Already the holder of several of the franchise’s career passing records, Stafford figures to put those numbers even further out of reach for the quarterbacks that eventually follow him.
Joining Stafford on the returning quarterbacks list is Jake Rudock, one of the team’s two sixth round picks from the 2016 NFL Draft. Rudock initially didn’t make the team out of training camp but was signed to the practice squad to remain in the organization. He was elevated to the active roster after the Chicago Bears attempted to sign Rudock from the Lions’ practice squad to ensure he was not lost during the season.
Rudock didn’t wow with his play during the 2016 preseason but he showed enough to suggest he warrants being developed. The Bears attempt to sign Rudock last season says the Lions’ aren’t alone in this thinking. Rudock will get the first crack at locking down the primary backup job behind Stafford, but it won’t just be handed to him.