No one in the media knows Matthew Stafford like Dan Orlovsky. So when Orlovsky opens up on his friend and former teammate, it's a good idea to listen.
And here's what Orlovsky said Wednesday when asked about Stafford's future in Detroit.
"100 percent the Lions need to move on from Stafford, 100 percent," Orlovsky told the Pat McAfee Show.
It will be the biggest question facing the Lions' next regime. In fact, it will be one of the biggest storylines of the NFL offseason. Stafford is still at the top of his game, just a year removed from the best season of his career. He'll have plenty of suitors should the Lions decide to shop him.
And the Lions will have the option of finding their next franchise quarterback in the draft. (Zach Wilson, anyone?)
"Dude, it’s time. It’s time," Orlovsky said. "He was there for 12 years, it didn’t work. It didn’t not work because of the quarterback, it just didn’t work. They have to move on, he has to move on, they have to blow it all up and start over again. This is not a team that is a top-five draft pick away from making a run. They got some holes to fill. So Stafford needs to be moved, and he needs to move on for the rest of his career."
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Who might come get him? Orlovsky said it would be a similar list of teams to those who would potentially be in on another franchise QB in Carson Wentz: the Colts, Steelers and 49ers.
"I also believe that if Arthur Smith, the Titans offensive coordinator, goes somewhere, wherever he goes, I could see Matthew Stafford going," Orlovsky said.
Smith, 38, is an up-and-coming offensive mind who's helped turn Ryan Tannehill into one of the NFL's most efficient quarterbacks in Tennessee.
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An interesting twist: should the Lions move on from Stafford and the Eagles move on from Wentz, Orlovsky said he could see Wentz winding up in Detroit. Wentz turns 28 later this month, while Stafford turns 33 this offseason.
Orlovsky said Indianapolis, San Francisco, Pittsburgh and Detroit are "probably the top four teams" for Wentz.
Of course, before the Lions make any decisions at quarterback, they have to find a new head coach and new GM. Orlovsky said he would "look really hard at Robert Saleh as the head coach."
It's about more than Saleh's defensive acumen, according to Orlovsky. His leadership skills are just as important -- something 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman has gushed about this season.
"Me personally, I think we’ve fallen in love with just X’s and O’s in head coaching in the NFL and it’s created a lot of issues," Orlovsky said. "You gotta have a lot more than just that...so that’s who I would lean on as head coach."