Stafford signs 6 year deal with Lions

[o-BacklasH-o]

The Detroit Lions reached an agreement with Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford to make him the first pick in the NFL draft on Saturday.

 

According to a source, Stafford will receive a six-year, $41.7 million deal that could be worth $78 million if he achieves all of his playing incentives. The source also said he will receive $41.7 million in guarantees. That tops the $41 million in guarantees Albert Haynesworth received from the Washington Redskins.

 

The Lions intensified negotiations for Stafford over the past three days, knowing they could also reach a less expensive deal with Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry. After Curry's agents visited the Lions minicamp over the weekend, Lions president Tom Lewand focused on Stafford.

 

The Stafford deal is the richest given to a draft choice in history, topping the five-year, $57.5 million contract the Dolphins gave to tackle Jake Long last season and the six-year, $72 million contract Matt Ryan received from the Atlanta Falcons.

 

The language of the contract must still be agreed upon and approved by the management council.

 

As the week began, the Lions were down to three choices -- Stafford, Curry and Baylor tackle Jason Smith, but the team was insistent on having a contract in place with the first-round pick before Saturday's draft.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4097641

[Prane]

Good stuff signing a pick before the draft but that is a LOT pf money to shell out to an unproven QB. But with Cullpepper looking really good in training camp this could work out well. I say start Cullpepper and have Stafford watch and learn for at least the first few weeks.

[Klutch]

lol, the lions will never be good because of these dumb first round draft choices... Calvin Johnson is a beast though

[Johnson30]

ALEX SMITH.....AGAIN!