While it's hard to say anything definitively until the next regime is in place, it's starting to feel like Matthew Stafford will be back next season for the Lions.
Barry Sanders, who's part of the team's advisory panel in its search for a new GM and new head coach, added to that sentiment Wednesday.
"I would expect for Matt to be back and I would want him back," Sanders said in an interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "I don’t know sort of what he’s thinking as far as that. My understanding is that he’s completely and certainly planning to come back. The guy’s still playing at a high level. It’s great to see him this year remain healthy. Maybe that’ll be the thing that he needs or that he can benefit from, but I know that he’s still playing at a high level. So I would think that he would figure into any future plans for anyone coming in here."
Stafford, who turns 33 next month, is under contract for two more years. But the Lions could trade him if they opt for a full rebuild this offseason, a decision that will be up to the next GM and next head coach.
On the GM front, the current 'favorite' is Rams director of college scouting Brad Holmes. Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds and Saints assistant GM's Jeff Ireland and Larry Fontenot remain in the mix as well.
On the coaching front, Sanders indicated there are some names in play from the college ranks in addition to the team's seven known candidates from the NFL. He also said Chris Spielman "is the one who's kind of heading the search."
"From what I understand, there's definitely some college coaches involved in our process of who Chris is looking at," Sanders said. "He’s taking a good look at both. There’s some great college coaches out there that could step in and do the job, and obviously there’s some offensive and defensive coordinators in the league as well that are being looked at. So that’s kind of how we’re looking at it."
With Spielman in charge, Sanders said the Lions are "in good hands as far as searching for a new coach."
"I support him in what he's doing. We've had conversations and it sounds like he has a good process and a good handle on who the real key players are in the college game and also who's available at the pro level," said Sanders.
It's no secret that Detroit's last head coach lost the locker room in year one, then spent the next two years trying to win it back. It was too late for Matt Patricia. This time, Sanders hopes the Lions hire "someone who can really reach the players and garner their respect and get them to play hard and compete to the extent that it's necessary."
"Someone who can really speak to the players and meet them at their level," he went on. "In a given locker room, you have wide ranges of ages and experiences and talent levels and even levels of motivation, so you gotta have someone that can really reach these guys and get them to understand that it's a great opportunity to come into a program where maybe you haven’t won but you can establish that reputation, you can establish that identity."