Matthew Stafford is on the trade block and reportedly one-third of the league has reached out to the Lions expressing interest.
One of those teams is likely the Patriots given their need at the quarterback position.
Following Matt Patricia re-joining New England after being fired by the Lions in the middle of last season, some speculated it hurts the Patriots' chances of landing Stafford because of the relationship between the two.
But, maybe their relationship is better than most thought.
"Those two sides got off to a rocky start in year one," Justin Rogers of The Detroit News said on NBC Sports Boston's Early Edition. "In New England, Tom Brady was treated like any other player and Matt Patricia came in and tried to do something similar in Detroit, criticized Stafford in a meeting using some adult language and it was not appreciated. Years two and three, Patricia came in and tried to reset the relationship. For those last two seasons, the big boy pants were put on and I cannot see that being a hang-up to preventing Stafford from coming to New England.”
Rogers believes Stafford would like the fit in New England.
“Matthew wants out and what he really wants more than anything right now is to win," he said. "It’s a matter of getting the team accolades that have eluded him for years and years. Bill Belichick offers that."
Stafford, who turns 33 years old on Sunday, threw for over 4,000 yards and 28 touchdowns this past season.