Add Rodney Harrison to the growing list of pundits who think Matthew Stafford and the Lions need to go their separate ways.
"I don’t think Detroit will do better than Stafford at this point in time, but I do believe that they just need to absolve the relationship — because Matthew Stafford actually just deserves better than this," Harrison said during a recent conversation on The Safety Blitz on NBC Sports.
Stafford's future in Detroit is one of the bigger questions of the NFL offseason. By now, the biggest question might be where he ends up. Dan Orlovsky, Stafford's longtime friend and former teammate, suggested either Indianapolis, Pittsburgh or San Francisco.
Harrison's pitching New England.
"I’ll just say this, if I’m the Patriots I’m looking to make a trade. I’m looking to make a trade because think about Matthew Stafford on the Patriots if Belichick adds a couple weapons, with his coaching, that young defense, I just think they have a better chance," Harrison said.
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Stafford, who turns 33 this offseason, is signed through 2022. He carries cap hits of $34.95 million in 2021 and $27.95 million in 2022, according to Spotrac. That's a lot of money for any team to take on, but Harrison suggests Stafford would be open to a pay cut to play for the Pats. Entering this season, he'd already banked over $200 million.
"A guy like Matthew Stafford who’s made tons of money, he's financially secure, maybe he can go to the Pats and say, instead of asking for $30 million a year, ‘Pay me $20 million, pay me $18 million. I’ll take less money to come to a winner, to be able to play on national TV, to be able to have Coach Belichick as my coach.’ Most players that come to New England are taking pay cuts," said Harrison, a two-time Super Bowl winner the Pats. "I took a pay cut to come to New England, but it was all good."
The Patriots will have a need at quarterback this offseason, with Cam Newton's contract set to expire. While the former MVP played well to start the year, he's mostly struggled since. His 78.9 passer rating ranks 31st out of 35 qualifying quarterbacks. Stafford ranks 19th at 94.8.
It's hard to assume anything about the Lions' point of view until they hire a new head coach and new general manager. But the facts are simple: Stafford has three playoff appearances and zero playoff wins over 12 years in Detroit. For a litany of reasons -- Stafford himself being pretty low among them -- this marriage just hasn't worked.
If it ends in divorce, Belichick might come calling.
"Yeah, I think it’s time for Matthew Stafford to move on," Harrison said. "And you talk about Detroit, that’s been the problem. It’s been the defense, it’s been the penalties, it’s been the inconsistency at the coaching position and just the organization. But yeah, if I’m Matthew Stafford, he’s made a couple hundred million dollars, it’s time for him to pursue winning and a championship. And I think the right place, like New England, could really put him right back in the fold."