The Detroit Lions have made their decision for their number 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft and it will be Matthew Stafford, quarterback from the University of Georgia. Steve Wyche of NFL.com reports that Stafford signed a 6 year deal that will pay out $41.7 million in guaranteed money. It is also reported that the overall deal could be worth as much as $78 million.
Detroit's decision to go with a quarterback is not a surprising one. Many mock drafts, including mine, has Stafford as the number 1 pick. Aaron Curry, linebacker from Wake Forest, shook things up this week by announcing that he would take less money than last year's number 1 pick if the Lions were to choose him. But, the Lions kept after Stafford who also expressed a desire to play for Detroit, the only team to have a 0-16 season in NFL history.
Stafford will have some veteran experience to learn from on Detroit's roster. That comes in the form of Lions quarterback Daunte Culpepper who, by many accounts, looks better than he did last season. With the deal in place, Stafford should be on time to training camp and all off season workouts. Detroit studied Stafford thouroughly; reviewing film, attending his pro day, and inviting him into town for a detailed workout.
Detroit hopes that Stafford's good looks, talent, and rocket arm will excite fans and become the face of the franchise. After debuting new uniforms and airing positive commercials locally, the Lions are taking on their daunting task of rebuilding with full steam. Now that they have made their choice with the number 1 overall pick, they will invest in making sure that choice has every chance to succeed.
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