It wasn't that long ago that Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was considered injury prone by his NFL peers. In his first two seasons, Stafford missed a total of 19 games. But after undergoing shoulder surgery in 2010, he hasn't missed a single game since.
Still, the Lions remember what life is like without their starting quarterback and they know it isn't so good. That's why the team wants to upgrade over backup QBs Dan Orlovsky and Kellen Moore through the NFL draft this year. That process has already started as Detroit reportedly met with a "pro prospect this week at the Senior Bowl."
"Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty, who's on the North team, met with a large contingent of Lions coaches and scouts in Mobile this week, including head coach Jim Caldwell and general manager Martin Mayhew," John Katzenstein of the Detroit News wrote.
"...Petty, more so than some of the other quarterbacks in Mobile, (Ala.), is an intriguing prospect for the Lions. Because the Lions have Matthew Stafford in place as the franchise quarterback, they can afford to draft a backup who's a bit of a project. Petty was prolific in Baylor's up-tempo offense, but he'll have to make adjustments to play under center and learn a more complex NFL scheme."
Of course, NFL draft projections change wildly throughout the scouting process. Petty is expected to go in the second or third round right now. That could all change with a few good or bad workouts. The Lions will have to decide what type of price they are willing to pay for backup quarterback.