Matthew Stafford has developed into the franchise-caliber quarterback the Lions expected when they drafted him in 2009.
But while the 28-year-old Stafford is in his prime, the Lions may draft a quarterback in this year’s draft.
MORE: NFL Mock Draft | Best first-round matches | Top fantasy QBs in 2016
It’s a strategy new Lions GM Bob Quinn learned in his 16 years in scouting and player personnel with the Patriots. Even though New England had all-world Tom Brady at quarterback, Quinn drafted a young quarterback every few years for depth.
"I think it’s really good football business to acquire a young quarterback every year or every other year," Quinn told reporters Thursday, via the Detroit Free Press. "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 strategy worked out especially well for the Patriots with Matt Cassel, a seventh-round pick in 2005. When Brady went down to a season-ending injury in the first quarter of the 2008 opener, Cassel stepped in and led the Pats to an 11-5 mark.
MORE: Biggest Draft regrets for each team
The Lions re-signed backup QB Dan Orlovsky this offseason, but don’t have a third-string quarterback on the current roster. The Free Press noted the Lions won't spend a high draft choice on a signal caller, but have shown some interest in several quarterbacks who are expected to be available in later rounds, including Jake Rudock of Michigan, Stanford's Kevin Hogan and UMass's Blake Frohnapfel.