Are The Detroit Lions Already In The Trevor Lawrence Sweepstakes?

Detroit Lions fans looked south longingly this week as the Houston Texans fired coach Bill O’Brien.

But alas, the dawning of another new era of Lions football will have to wait for another day. Inaction during the bye week means coach Matt Patricia still has time to turn his tenure around.

When Detroit looks to the future, the status of the most important position on the field is an open question.

Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn resisted the urge to build for a post-Matthew Stafford era in this year’s NFL Draft, bypassing Tua Tugovailoa at No. 3.

But after what looks like another flop of a season and an impressive crop of QBs available next year, it’s time to at least consider a change.

Trevor Lawrence, anyone?

NFL Week 6: There’s still a chance to turn this season around

The Lions came out of the bye this week at 1-3, already a few games out of first place in the NFC North.

The writing is on the wall for Patricia and Quinn.

Quinn hired his former Patriots compatriot after firing Jim Caldwell for not getting the Lions over the hump. The GM famously said “9-7 is not good enough” after back-to-back winning seasons for Caldwell.

Patricia, the former New England defensive coordinator, is 10-25-1 in his third season.

There is an easy schedule on the immediate horizon though. Five of Detroit’s next seven games are against losing teams, starting Sunday at Jacksonville. The Jaguars enter Sunday with a 1-4 record after losing to previously-winless Houston in Week 5.

Lions actually road favorites in Florida

The Lions have Jacksonville and then Atlanta, a team which fired its coach and general manager on Sunday.

It’s an opportunity for Detroit to turn its season around but also a chance to dig a hole that could show just how far Patricia has dragged this franchise down.

On Monday morning, the Lions opened as field goal favorites with an over/under of 52.5 points.

(Last updated: 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17)

Teams could start angling for Trevor Lawrence

Jacksonville also needs a franchise quarterback and is also one of the league’s dregs. The Jags could be in the market for Lawrence, the Clemson quarterback.

The 6-foot-6 Lawrence already has a national championship and could be the type of can’t-miss prospect NFL teams covet.

Stafford was once one himself, but in season 12 with the Lions, the former first pick out of Georgia has not won a playoff game.

Though the Stafford debate will continue to rage in Michigan, it’s at least worth considering what you could get for the 32-year-old in a trade.

Other NFL dregs such as Denver and the New York Giants and Jets could use a QB upgrade. In addition, Lawrence’s potential could coax a wide range of teams to consider trading up.

Justin Fields, Trey Lance also top QB prospects

It’s not just Lawrence that has NFL talent evaluators excited.

There’s Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, who football fans in Michigan know quite well for terrorizing the Wolverines.

There’s also the much lesser-known Trey Lance of North Dakota State, who played one fall game for the Bison and will skip the spring Football Championship Subdivision season.

Lance was 17-0 for NDSU and should follow in the shoes of Carson Wentz as a highly drafted Bison quarterback.

Odds are Lawrence will go first in NFL Draft

Though you can’t bet on who will win the Heisman Trophy in Michigan, you can place a wager on who will be the first pick of the draft.

Michigan sports betting operators have handicapped the NFL Draft odds.

At FanDuel Sportsbook, Lawrence has -300 odds to go first overall, followed by Fields at +500. Oregon offensive lineman Penei Sewell is next at +650 with Lance fourth at +900.

PointsBet Sportsbook has Lawrence at -300, Fields at +300, Sewell at +425 and Lance at +1,000.