Nothing's official yet, but it certainly looks like Matthew Stafford is done in Detroit.
Who's next?
That's the biggest question facing the Lions' new regime, led by GM Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell. While the team could trade for a proven quarterback, drafting Stafford's successor with the seventh overall pick feels like the more likely outcome.
Zach Wilson? Justin Fields? Trey Lance? All three could be in play for the Lions, although they could face competition from at least two teams ahead of them in the Jets (second overall) and the Falcons (fourth). And don't rule out the Eagles (sixth).
Prior to the news that Stafford is ready to move on, the Lions were a popular landing spot for Penn State LB Micah Parsons. And adding more talent to a defense that just finished last in the league is still a strong possibility.
But in Mel Kiper Jr.'s first mock of the year, the Lions are spending the seventh overall pick on Stafford's successor. The first six players off the board: QB Trevor Lawrence (JAX), WR DeVonta Smith (NJY), WR Ja'Marr Chase (MIA), QB Zach Wilson (ATL), OT Penei Sewell (CIN), WR Jaylen Waddle (PHI).
With the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Lions select Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State:
"It appears that new general manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell will go all-in on a rebuild, and so Fields could be the face of it," writes Kiper Jr. "He had an up-and-down season, but we saw the flashes of his talent, particularly in his six-touchdown performance against Clemson in the College Football Playoff semifinal. Fields has superstar potential, but he'll need help around him. Detroit will need to figure out what it's doing with free-agent wideouts Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr. and make sure Fields has a chance to succeed in Year 1."
One pick later, the Panthers select North Dakota State QB Trey Lance. That would be four quarterbacks in the top 8 picks for the first time this century. And one pick after that, Parsons goes to the Broncos.