Lions and Stafford reach deal.

[Vinsane]

Stafford agrees to a six year, 41.7M Deal.

 

[Vinsane]

There's no way that's the total contract value. Guaranteed money, probably.

That's correct, should of pointed that out. It's the guaranteed money.

 

[Sportsbuck]

Blah. Worst #1 overall pick in a long time.

Alex Smith?

 

[celtsxpatsxsox]

The Detroit Lions will never learn. Right now, there best option was to either trade down, and get an extra pick, then draft a OT (saved some money also) Let's pick a QB, with no offensive line, no running game really, nothing. Then have to pay him the #1 overall type contract. The Lions will NEVER learn, and they will never win, if they keep doing shitty things like that.

Here is what I would have done

1. Traded down to the #5-6, picked up an extra pick, and save some cash.

Let's face it, the Lions won't win next year and the draft class is REALLY good.

Lions, please learn from your mistakes.

a little problem with that theory though. No one wants the number 1 pick. The Lions still have the 20th pick and the 33rd pick so thay can still address there offensive line need.

 

[Bigpapa42]

Man, does the NFL need to sort things out with rookie contracts. That's ridiculous.

 

[St. Francisco]

The Detroit Lions will never learn. Right now, there best option was to either trade down, and get an extra pick, then draft a OT (saved some money also) Let's pick a QB, with no offensive line, no running game really, nothing. Then have to pay him the #1 overall type contract. The Lions will NEVER learn, and they will never win, if they keep doing shitty things like that.

Here is what I would have done

1. Traded down to the #5-6, picked up an extra pick, and save some cash.

Let's face it, the Lions won't win next year and the draft class is REALLY good.

Lions, please learn from your mistakes.

To put what some others have said more bluntly...you're an idiot. Trading down isn't a one-way street, you need a team willing to trade up to #1. Now go sit down, and rack your tiny little brain...what team would want the #1 overall pick this year? There is no player that important in this draft.

Unlike others, I'm ok with the move...the Lions addressed one of their many needs in drafting a franchise QB. Whether or not it works out for them remains to be seen.

 

[St. Francisco]

I suppose you guys are right, but why not use the "skip" thing and pick Stafford after the #2 team picks? Save some cash also.

...................

What if the next team drafts the player Detroit wanted?

And most importantly, the Lions #1 objective was to get their player under contract. Holdouts are messy, and can lead to a lost rookie season. Stafford will be able to report from day one.

 

[Hasselbeck]

I suppose you guys are right, but why not use the "skip" thing and pick Stafford after the #2 team picks? Save some cash also.

Doesn't work that way, the agent would still argue he was the #1 pick..

The only solution is a rookie salary scale which is long overdue.. for Stafford to get more guaranteed money than 10 year vets is absurd.

 

[Maestro]

If you look at his talent level even if players like Bradford, Mccoy, and Tebow came out he would still have been the #1 pick because he is better than all of them. We will see how he pans out, but i dont see any of the previous three stated being top tier talent in the NFL.

 

[celtsxpatsxsox]

Something needs to be done though, no rookie player should get 41 million dollars without playing one snap in the NFL.

well this will most likely be the final year of that because this will be voted on. Which is why a lot of JRs came out this year.

 

[Hasselbeck]

well this will most likely be the final year of that because this will be voted on. Which is why a lot of JRs came out this year.

Partially true.. a lot of juniors declared this year because the senior class was one of the weakest in the last 20 years.

 

[Sven Draconian]

Not thrilled with the pick, but I'm not completley down on it.

I find it strange how people label Stafford as a "good" prospect that can't have the HoF career (not anyone in this thread, but opinons in general). Under that theory, there woudn't be anybody in the HoF drafted after the first round.

Is this my favorite pick, no. I wanted Curry. Stafford isn't entering a completely awful situation however. The Lions OL isn't awful, it's below average to be certain, but they drafted Gosder Cherilus and singed Looper this year. I'm assuming they'll grab an OL or two within the first 3 rounds. Backus is below average, LG is awful, Raiola is decent, Looper should be decent and Gosder should be pretty good this season. If they draft a LG (or, a LT and move Backus) the OL should be pretty alright.

The WR corp is pretty good. Calvin is a stud and there are some decent vets with him. Kevin Smith is a solid back and we have a decent running game. Linehan has a QB friendly offense which will help.

He'll sit atleast half the year (I still think that he he may see the field halfway through the season).
---------------------------------------------------

Unforunately, this means our defense will likely be neglected. I'm assuming we are going to look for a OL at #20 or #33 (and most likely someone on Day 2) when we really needed those picks for defense.

 

[Bigpapa42]

To put what some others have said more bluntly...you're an idiot. Trading down isn't a one-way street, you need a team willing to trade up to #1. Now go sit down, and rack your tiny little brain...what team would want the #1 overall pick this year? There is no player that important in this draft.

Unlike others, I'm ok with the move...the Lions addressed one of their many needs in drafting a franchise QB. Whether or not it works out for them remains to be seen.

True. Same situation when the Niners took Smith a couple years ago.

 

[JeremyHight]

Lions are fucking idiots, now instead of getting a defense set up and solidifying our offensive line for a young QB next year, we have glaring holes on the OL that are only going to get worse and are probably not going to be able to be addressed with the 20th pick (The drop off after the top 4 tackles is HUGE, IMO).

So great, we have a young QB who either won't play this year at all or will be asked to win the game without pass blocking because our piss poor defense will stop no one.

 

[Vinsane]

78M is the whole contract for Stafford, 41.7 Guaranteed

 

[Maestro]

Lions are fucking idiots, now instead of getting a defense set up and solidifying our offensive line for a young QB next year, we have glaring holes on the OL that are only going to get worse and are probably not going to be able to be addressed with the 20th pick (The drop off after the top 4 tackles is HUGE, IMO).

So great, we have a young QB who either won't play this year at all or will be asked to win the game without pass blocking because our piss poor defense will stop no one.

No DE or DT was worth taking with the number one pick, and as stated before the #1 pick is hard to move. Next the top four tackles are Jason Smith, Eugene Monroe, Andre Smith and Michael Oher, Oher should be there for the Lions at #20.

In the second round if they do not want to draft James Laurinaitis, Michael Johnson and Larry English both DE's can possibly fall to them.

 

[corbin]

That's fucking ridiculous. Congrats you got payed more than Albert Haynesworth and you never stepped on an NFL field!

 

[Maestro]

They should've taken Aaron Curry.

Name the last LB taken with the #1 pick. Plus they have Sims and Peterson already at the LB position,yes Curry can play inside but it would not make much sense for them to pick Curry.

 

[Buzzman]

Well i think Stafford will have the weapons to suceed in 2 years. I just hope he pans out. O and I hope the rest of our draft is defense and o-line

 

[Maestro]

Well i think Stafford will have the weapons to suceed in 2 years. I just hope he pans out. O and I hope the rest of our draft is defense and o-line

Detroit needs a WR to give him someone to throw to. Sure he can toss it up to Calvin Johnson all day but they need someone opposite of him, and a slot receiver.