Detroit Lions: 5 teams that need to trade for Matthew Stafford
By Bob Heyrman
The Washington Football Team
I don’t know if it was simply fighting for a likable head coach in Ron Rivera who’d been battling cancer yet still only missed a handful of team practices. Or getting behind their quarterback who nearly lost his leg after suffering a gruesome break a couple of seasons prior and miraculously found his way back under center as a starter.
Whatever it was, the Washington Football Team became that club in 2021 that was hard to root against.
Despite producing a lackluster 7-9 record, Washington managed to win the awful NFC East Division, which allowed them to host a playoff game, nearly knocking out the Super Bowl-bound, Tom Brady-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers; with what felt like their fifth-string quarterback Taylor Heinicke.
Unfortunately, Alex Smith was unable to compete in the playoff game, and after releasing former top-ten pick, Dwayne Haskins, Washington turned the reins over to Heinicke. Despite a gallant effort from Heinicke, Brady, as he so often does, found himself victorious.
Recently Washington hired former Detroit Lions GM Martin Mayhew to be their new General Manager. Mayhew initially drafted Stafford first overall back in 2009.
In 2020, Washington produced a top-five defense. It’s a ball-club that uses a ferocious defensive front to create havoc on opposing offenses led by Chase Young, Montez Sweat, and Ryan Kerrigan.
Washington ranked fourth-best, allowing just 20.6 points per game but only managed to score 20.9 per game, which ranked 25th. There are some nice pieces to work with on this Washington offense, starting with a ‘do-it-all’ rookie running back in Antonio Gibson plus a really nice playmaker in Terry McLaurin at receiver.
Washington will have an estimated $35 million in cap space heading into the offseason and, while owning the 19th overall pick, could take a run at acquiring Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. It’s a call Mayhew needs to make; he’s well aware of Stafford’s character and willingness to put the team first; he’s seen it all first-hand.