Analyst Greg Cosell joined KNBR on Wednesday and discussed quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is being shopped by the Detroit Lions. Despite there being some debate on his worth, NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported on Wednesday that nearly a third of the league has already reached out to the Lions to inquire about the quarterback.
The San Francisco 49ers currently have a quarterback, but Cosell feels that Stafford is an upgrade over Jimmy Garoppolo or any passer who might be available in the draft.
"To me, he's an absolute upgrade over Jimmy G, and I like Jimmy G, but Stafford's just better," Cosell said on the Tolbert, Krueger & Brooks show. "... I would trade for Stafford way before I would draft a quarterback in the first round. Like if somebody says, 'Oh no, I'm not trading for Stafford because I'm going to draft Zach Wilson,' I would never do that. I would trade for Stafford in a heartbeat."
Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young also joined the show, listened to Cosell's comments, and agreed with them wholeheartedly. It is worth noting that Young has been a fan of Wilson, recently saying that there is no limit to what the BYU quarterback can become.
Even so, Young would not hesitate to take Stafford over any rookie.
"I agree (with Cosell)," Young said. "Untested, young talent versus a kid that's been super tested because he's been in Detroit, and I am not joking about that."
Despite lacking a strong supporting cast around him during his career, Stafford has still managed to pass for over 4,000 yards in eight of his 12 NFL seasons and has appeared in every game during all but one of his past 10 seasons.
"I don't want to overstate it, but [Detroit is] not a career-enhancing place," Young continued. "... That's why Matthew, in my mind, we all need to tip our cap to him, regardless of what he does, anything else, if he just retired today. I don't tip my cap for everybody. I would tip my cap to that kid for what he's been through, how he propped it up, how relentless he's been, how much he's gotten done."
Sports Illustrated reported on Wednesday that the 49ers have the "inside edge" to landing Stafford from the Lions. It sounds like Young would have no problem with that.
"He's [going to turn 33 in February]," Young added. "Unless there's a shoulder (injury) I don't know about, or a knee that I don't know about, or something else that's kind of degrading quickly that won't allow him to play five or six or seven more years and get him close to 40, then that would change everything.
"But let's just say he's generally healthy and can play into 39, 40 years old, there's no question that he is one of those handful of quarterbacks that is generational."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Young below.
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