Matthew Stafford: Detroit Lions $41 million Deal

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Matthew Stafford closed the $41 million deal Guaranteed with Detroit Lions and thus it makes him the #1 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

The contract is meant for 6 years and including incentives could easily move upto $78 million.

As SportsIllustrated Puts it:- Long’s deal averaged $10 million per year on minimum playing time, and $11.5 million per year achieving maximum incentives. Stafford’s deal is $12 million a year with minimum playing time and $13 million per year with incentives. The Lions, who had a deal worth much less in place with Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry if they couldn’t reach a deal with Stafford, clearly wanted the quarterback all along.

Coach Jim Schwartz, trying to turn around the fortunes of the 0-16 team, made it clear he valued the moxie and terrific arm strength of Stafford. General manager Martin Mayhew and COO Tom Lewand set out Wednesday to make a deal with Stafford. Friday night, shortly after 10:30 ET, the deal got done.

As Fox Sports Puts it:- Detroit desperately needs a quarterback to help turn around the NFL’s first 0-16 team, which has had the worst eight-year stretch in the league since World War II, and is turning to Stafford after he was a starter in each of his three seasons at Georgia.

At 6-foot-3, Stafford has the size needed to be a franchise NFL quarterback, and the arm strength to go with it. He threw for 3,459 yards and 25 touchdowns in his junior year at Georgia, ending his career with 250 yards and three TDs in winning the Capital One Bowl MVP.

First Year Coach has already said on record that Detroit staff has already studied Stafford on Film. He Said, “We’ve seen every pass he’s thrown in the last two years, and that’s where you learn about his decision-making ability,”

While in an Interview Given to Scout.com, Stafford said, “I am a competitive guy; I don’t think the Lions are that far off, Yeah, it would be a heck of a challenge to be able to go in there and make something special happen”

Well we wish Detroit Lions and Matthew Stafford Best Luck for the upcoming 2009 season.