Matthew Stafford has always been a tough quarterback to place.

He’s a former No. 1 overall pick from 2009. Statistically, he has set team and NFL records in his first seven seasons -- but he had to do a lot of that because the Detroit Lions had a mostly below-average running game and for the majority of Stafford’s career have been behind in contests.

He is exceedingly gifted physically, possessing one of the best arms in the league. He’s also extremely bright. But other than a 5,000-yard season in 2011, the 27-year-old hasn’t broken out like his draft status -- with a signing bonus of $27.5 million and a total of $41.5 million in guaranteed money -- would suggest.

These two sides of Stafford led to this position in the 2015 quarterback tier rankings -- tied for No. 12 with Eli Manning and toward the back end of the Tier 2 quarterbacks .

For a player like Stafford, being compared with Manning would typically mean good things. Manning has won two Super Bowls, but he has also had bouts of inconsistency -- the 2014 season attested to that -- and that led him to a Tier 2 ranking and a tie with Stafford.

No disputes Matthew Stafford's talent but his mental makeup is another question. Leon Halip/Getty Images

Stafford received a Tier 1 vote this season and eight Tier 3 grades after a season in which his interceptions went down, his completion percentage went up but his yards and touchdowns also fell. Most of those quoted anonymously in the story questioned Stafford’s drive and desire.

I don’t know if I necessarily buy the drive and desire portion of things, especially since he has shown the ability to win games in the fourth quarter. But the Lions need Stafford to take a step forward in 2015 and to build on the successes he had last season. If he accomplishes that, he might be able to move up when the scouts and player personnel folks take a vote in 2016.

It is a big year for Stafford, too. He is in the final contract year with guaranteed money this season and his cap number rises from over $17.7 million this season to $22.5 million in 2016 and $22 million in 2017. So for his own long-term interests with the Lions -- and the team has given no indication it would part ways with him at this point -- having another season like he did in 2011 could be beneficial.