Lions entering their biggest rebuild since drafting Stafford

last time Detroit Lions went into an offseason with a rebuilding project this large, y were coming off a winless season and drafted quarterback Matw Stafford with . 1 overall pick in 2009.

Detroit's new general manr and coach will have to decide if Stafford is part of ir plans to retool a franchise in desperate need of major changes after losing 33 games in three seasons.

Stafford has two years left on his $135 million, five-year deal, but new leaders of Lions may opt to reshape roster by trading him to acquire more draft picks.

And Stafford may simply say he's ready to move on from Motor City.

“re’s a lot to discuss," he ackwledged after season ended with a 37-35 loss to Minnesota. “I’ll obviously keep that between my family and I and all that, but we’ll figure it out at some or date I’m sure.”

Stafford surpassed 45,000-yard mark for passing Sunday in his 165th game, fastest an NFL player has reached that number, and he threw three for three scores against Vikings to raise his career total to 282 touchdowns.

Like many of Stafford's statistics, y were marred by a loss as team dropped to 5-11 this season and he fell to 74-89-1 in regular season as a starter.

Detroit drafted strong-armed Stafford with hopes he could help franchise earn at least a playoff victory for first time since winning 1957 NFL title. But he went 0-3 in 2011, 2014 and 2016 postseasons.

Offensive tackle Taylor Decker, who signed a six-year, $85 million deal just before last season started, said Monday he planned to lobby Lions President Rod Wood to keep Stafford as a teammate.

“I would love to keep protecting his blindside," Decker said.

LEADERS OF LIONS

franchise's top priorities this offseason are to hire a general manr and coach to replace Quinn and Patricia after both were fired f ive-plus weeks ago.

San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is interviewing with Lions later this week after talking with Atlanta Falcons about ir head coaching job on Monday, a person familiar with situation said, speaking on condition of anymity to Associated Press because teams had t anunced those details.

Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy plans to interview with Lions among or teams, a person familiar with his plans told AP on condition of anymity because he has t made his plans public.

Chris Spielman , who has ties throughout league as a former Lions linebacker and TV analyst, is playing a key role in searches as a special assistant.

HELP WANTED

Lions have needs at every position group on defense after setting franchise records by allowing 519 points and 6,716 yards, breaking marks set by ir winless team in 2008 and ranking among worst ever in league.

“ talent is here," insisted safety Duron Harmon, one of many ex-Patriots that former general manr Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia acquired. “Injuries were tough on us this year. We never had a fully healthy team."

GOLLADAY'S PAYDAY

Even though receiver Kenny Golladay played in just five games during 2020 season, Lions can't afford to let him get away in free ncy. Detroit drafted him in third round four years ago and he led league in receiving touchdowns in 2019.

Lions likely won't be able to afford to keep veteran receiver Marvin Jones, who had nine touchdown receptions for second straight season, a career-high 76 receptions and nearly 1,000 yards receiving to improve his value on market as a free nt.

BEST AVAILABLE

Detroit will have . 7 pick in draft and it needs help at every position, giving team a lot of options in April. And it desperately needs 2021 picks to pan out.

Lions took Jeff Okudah last year . 3 overall, becoming first team in more than two decades to draft a cornerback that high. Okudah struggled with only one interception in nine games before needing season-ending groin surgery in mid-December.

“I don’t want to make any excuses," he said. “If you’re out re on Sunday, you’re good eugh to go.'"

Looking back, team probably would have been better served by selecting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert instead of a highly touted cornerback.

Okudah said he will be motivated to validate his place in draft for people who believed he was worth selecting as high as he was last year.

Im credits: AP