The problem is that it’s not about getting a “better” QB than Stafford. It’s about getting better bang for your buck.
Mahomes is, for example, taking up 2.1% of his team’s cap. Stafford is at 15% of the cap. Stafford will be higher next year.
Also, not all stats are created equally. I’d start to look at Stafford and see where those stats are coming from. A ways back (in another place) I did some analysis of Stafford v. Cousins (with DC) it was off the page where Cousins was throwing downfield and Stafford was mooching off the YACs of our petite back phase (thankfully over with KJ, Blount and Zenner). None of the QBs who are “as good” as him had Calvin Johnson or anything like him at any point in their career. Ryan, maybe, I suppose, had good/better receivers.
I try to stay away from comparisons, though, since it’s a lot of apples v. oranges. I look at what he can and can’t do.
I strongly question Stafford’s touch. I strongly question Stafford’s accuracy and placement. I also question his ability to choose the right play. You notice there aren’t a whole lot of slants and crossing patterns? Seems like most of his passes are vertical or horizontal and they all fly out of there like a cannon. Yeah, great, he can hit passes through small window.
I’m still hella upset about 2013’s choke job. I have no faith in him to get the job done.
I get the same feeling I got when Scott Mitchell dropped back to pass. I’m just waiting for the pick 6.
I’m so bored of watching “scramble back heroically, maybe make it happen, maybe just come up short”.
Stafford is a tease. He’s fool’s gold.
You’re not going to get someone elite if you keep hanging on to “good enough”.
I’d rather roll the dice. It’s not like we’ll lose that many more games.