ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions have put another quarterback on the trade block, this time shopping Chase Daniel according to ESPN.
Daniel signed a three-year, $13.05 million deal with Detroit just last offseason. That’s kind of a lot of money for a guy who had started five games and thrown 218 passes in 10 years, but the Lions hadn’t invested much in the position over the years and then went 0-8 when Matthew Stafford was sidelined the previous season.
So then-general manager Bob Quinn opened up his check book for Daniel last offseason, thinking the veteran would provide some stability if Stafford went down again. But Daniel was largely ineffective in four appearances last season, including not even crossing midfield in almost three quarters of work against Tampa Bay. He finished 29 of 43 passing overall for 264 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions and a passer rating of 79.9.
Now change is afoot at the quarterback position, where Detroit has already agreed to send Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams. The trade cannot be finalized until March 17, but the Lions will receive a third-round pick this year, a first-round pick next year and another first-round pick in 2022.
The Lions are also receiving Jared Goff in the deal. Goff will count $27.8 million against the cap, in addition to the $17.8 million worth of dead money wrapped up in Stafford. That’s $44.8 million worth of quarterbacks in a year where the cap will shrink for just the second time in NFL history.
That always made Daniel -- cap hit: $5.75 million -- a potential casualty. Now it is done, freeing up another $2.3 million in space heading into free agency.
David Blough remains on the roster and becomes the favorite to back up Goff next season, although the Lions could look to add another quarterback in the draft, and perhaps even with the seventh overall pick. Trevor Lawrence is expected to go first overall, although guys like Justin Fields, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance and Mac Jones are other potential first-round picks.