I’m not sure what that means. The Lions are possibly looking for multiple draft picks and a good player in the deal. With Deshaun Watson also on the trade market it will be interesting to see who responds to the Lions.

Here are the details:

Text from league source on the #Lions trade talks for QB Matthew Stafford: "I’m sure they'll get a trade, but right now they're looking for a sucker to overpay."

— IG: JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) January 30, 2021

I’m not sure what the Lions will do at QB but to get draft capital for a player that is not long for organization is always a good deal. Is this a dark horse Deshaun Watson team? We’ll see how it all shakes out.

Here are the details:

In an arrangement the two sides have discussed and mutually agreed upon, quarterback Matthew Stafford is expected to not return to the Lions this offseason, with Detroit listening to trade offers starting this week, league sources told ESPN on Saturday.

With new general manager Brad Holmes and new head coach Dan Campbell now in place, the Lions will soon begin trade discussions that most likely will result in a new quarterback for the team — largely influenced by what and who Detroit will get in exchange for Stafford, sources told ESPN.

The Lions are expected to receive at least a first-round pick, league sources said.

Indianapolis needs to replace the recently retired Philip Rivers, and New Orleans, Pittsburgh and Washington may be facing similar situations with Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger and Alex Smith, respectively.

Carolina will explore its options at the position, and there are lingering quarterback questions with teams such as Denver and San Francisco.

It sucks as a fan but we have no idea what these guys are going through. Especially a big 6’5 receiver like Calvin who takes more than his fair share of hits from multiple players when he has the ball.

According to sources Johnson actually planned to retire before the 2015 season ever started:

Detroit Lions star receiver Calvin Johnson told his family and a close circle of friends before last season that 2015 would be his final year in the NFL, and he delivered the same message to coach Jim Caldwell the day after the regular season ended, sources told ESPN.

Caldwell told Johnson not to rush his decision — to take his time, sources told ESPN. Out of respect to Caldwell, Johnson agreed to do just that, according to sources.

The Lions have not given up hope that Johnson could change his mind, but one person who knows Johnson well said, “He’s pretty content with his decision.”

After nine seasons in the NFL, Johnson’s body is beaten down. The five-time Pro Bowler has battled lingering ankle injuries and general body soreness to the point that it makes it difficult for him to return for another season, during which time he would turn 31 years old.

Johnson’s body has been so sore, and his conviction so strong, that he shared his decision to retire after the 2015 season with only two teammates — quarterback Matthew Stafford and linebacker Stephen Tulloch — with the request that they keep it confidential, according to sources.

Stafford and Tulloch honored the request, and the rest of the Lions organization did not learn of Johnson’s plans to retire until after this season, according to sources. At that time, the Lions issued a statement from Johnson that said, “Like many players at this stage of their career, I am currently evaluating options for my future. I would expect to have a decision regarding this matter in the not-too-distant future.”

The Lions, in turn, said, “We obviously have profound respect for Calvin and certainly understand and appreciate his decision to give proper thought and consideration to his football future.”

But unless Johnson has the change of heart that the Lions still are hoping for but many are not expecting, one of the greatest players in franchise history is likely to walk away from the game.

Johnson played in all 16 games this past season, hauling in 88 receptions for 1,214 yards and nine touchdowns. It was his sixth consecutive 1,000-yard season and the seventh of his career.

The No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 draft, Johnson had his best year in 2012, when he set the NFL single-season record with 1,964 receiving yards. He is the Lions’ all-time franchise leader in career receptions (731) and receiving yards (11,619).

Sources: Johnson told Lions he plans to retire

I remember when this guy was balling out at GT with Reggie Ball throwing him passes. He’s made a career out of making questionable passers look good, now he can chill out and enjoy his money. Salute to Megatron on a great career.

With that said, how will the Lions attack the 2016 off season? There are a lot of positions they can address, especially since Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley are both wearing different jerseys now.

Thankfully DrKelley has dropped a Lions 2016 mock on us to see what the fans are expecting.

His 2016 Detroit Lions Mock Draft below:

I am doing this mock with the Assumption that CJ stays one more season with Caldwell being retained. Any questions, just drop a comment.

1. Lions: Ezekiel Elliott RB Ohio State

R 1 P 16: I believe this pick will make this offense take the next step. They have Tate and CJ at WR. Ebron at TE. Invested picks in the OL in the past 3-4 draft. RB is a huge need. Abdullah can be a solid scat back and return man, but his fumbling issues will continue if counted on to be a feature back.

2. Lions: William Jackson CB Houston

(Unsure of actual pick number)R 2 P 47: Darius Slay has worked out for Detroit very nicely but outside of him they do not have much. Nevin Lawson and Q Diggs will continue to battle for the nickle and dime snaps. No longer can the Lions put the 80 year old Mathis opposite Slay. Jackson has very good size and he has a nose for the ball.

3. Lions: Sheldon Rankins DT Louisville

Rankins played very well and I would not be surprised to see him rise into the 2nd round after the Senior bowl and Combine.

4. Lions: Denver Kirkland OG Arkansas

Detroit could desperately use depth on the OL and with Elliott now in town and a new emphasis on running the football I think Kirkland could be a huge sleeper and potential starter over last seasons first round choice, Laken Tomlinson. That pick hasn’t worked out at all and as a Lions fan they need to swallow their pride and move on.

For those counting Detroit is still the only team in the NFL with zero wins.

With Stafford owed exactly $0 guaranteed next season it is all but a formality at this point. The Lions are going to get out of the Stafford era soon.

With Stafford out should the Lions draft Jared Goff?

A new regime is going to want its own quarterback. The problem is… this upcoming draft class doesn’t really have a standout.

Jared Goff is among the most talented. He is basically the anti-Stafford with his ball placement and accuracy. He is certainly in the mix for the number one pick.

Connor Cook is who the fans will want. Cook plays at Michigan State and the fans have seen him win the most games in school history. Lions/Spartan fans will want to continue that winning tradition. Cook doesn’t have the same arm talent as Goff but the drop off isn’t that wide either. It will be interesting to see which direction the Lions go in.

Ultimately the Lions should draft Jared Goff with the #1 overall pick if they earn it but you have to remember: this is the Lions. I wouldn’t be surprised if they took Robert Nkemdiche or Cardale Jones. When it comes to this franchise nothing would surprise me at this point!

Down in Miami the light bulb seemed to come on and Bush had some of his best years. First he broke 1,000 yards rushing for the first time in his career and last season he came up just shy of the 1,000 mark again while still remaining a consistent ball carrier.

That is why it was no surprise several teams wanted him badly.

With his game breaking ability and newly found patience for carrying between the tackles, Bush is an asset to an offense with the right pieces in place. Washington wanted to bring him in to work wit Robert Griffin III but that was not to be as the Lions scheduled the first meeting with Mr. Bush and didn’t let him leave without a deal:

As @espn_nfcnblog is reporting and has been confirmed, Lions and Reggie Bush have reached agreement on 4-year deal.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2013

NDAMUKONG SUH

Since his arrival as a rookie last year, the Lions defense has matured into one of the most feared units in the league. Suh, paired with Corey Williams, free agent addition Kyle VandenBosch, and 2011 draft pick Nick Fairley are simply one of the most ferocious units in the league. There is still much more help desired in the backfield with Louis Delmas, but that’s if opposing QBs even get the chance to throw.

On offense, the Lions finally got their #1 overall draft pick, Quarterback Matthew Stafford, healthy and ready to play a complete season. Stafford has been slicing defenses worst than I comma slice sentences. You already know that the beneficiary of Matt’s stability has been Calvin Johnson, who is on a complete tear right now.

But even with all this success the Lions are probably going to come up short in their quest for a Super Bowl ring. They still need that one or two pieces to push them over the elite teams in the league.

What will they do? The following is a Lions Mock Draft put together by member WhiteBoiSwaqq (don’t ask me about the username, he picked it lol).

Mock below:

1	Lions		Reiff, Riley OT from Iowa Round 1/ Pick #20
2	Lions		Trufant, Desmond CB from Washington Round 2/ Pick #52
3	Lions		Molk, David C from Michigan Round 3/ Pick #84
4	Lions		Miller, Julian DE from West Virginia Round 4/ Pick #116 Shea McClellin, DE, Boise State… IS MY REAL PICK
5	Lions		Carder, Tank OLB from TCU Round 5/ Pick #148 Bobby Wagner, OLB, Utah State… IS MY REAL PICK
6	Lions		Walsh, Blair PK from Georgia Round 6/ Pick #180

Mikel was a second round draft pick out of Illinois. In his final season he rushed for a school record 1,697 yards and tied Rashard Mendenhall’s school record with 17 rushing touchdowns.

Maybe former Minnesota Viking and Boise State Bronco Ian Johnson steps up in the wake of Leshoure’s injury?

The Lions offense has always had potential to be explosive but Matt Stafford cannot stay healthy.  I loved the grit he’s shown in playing injured but eventually the Lions have to find some elite lineman to keep Matt upright.  You are not going to make the next step without your young QB suiting up.  Shaun Hill is a nice backup, and very well could be a starter somewhere else next year but Stafford is the here, now, and future of the Lions.

So who do the Lions need to draft to make that next move? Here are the most likely choices:

1.  Nate Solder OT, Colorado

Solder is a nice tackle and probably the best left tackle prospect in this class.  As said before, you need to protect Stafford and adding Solder will go a long way into keeping Stafford’s jersey clean for 16 games.

2. Tyron Smith OT USC

Another OT.  Are you surprised?  Smith is the best right tackle in this class, but many believe that he can go to the left side.   Coming in the combine at a little over 20 lbs above his collegiate playing weight and still maintaining his athleticism, Smith propelled to the middle of the first round.  The Lions may end up liking his potential over another tackle such as Solder or Carimi and go with Trojan.

3. Adrian Clayborn DE Iowa

In the odd chance that the Lion’s decide to ignore their offensive line in round one, I see them taking the best DE available to learn under Kyle Vanden Bosch and eventually team with Suh for the next 5 to 10 years.  Clayborn gets the nod here only because the other top prospects Quinn, Bowers, Watt, Jordan, and Aldon Smith are all likely to be gone at this point.  Do not count out Ryan Kerrigan either, another prospect that I really like.