Apologies for the brevity, I'm on a poor internet connection.
SI.com and others are confirming that Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions have agreed upon a deal to make Stafford the #1 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.
There will not be a holdout with the top pick in the 2009 NFL draft. The Detroit Lions and agents for Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford reached an agreement on a record-setting contract that will pay Stafford a guaranteed $41.7 million.
The six-year contract, with incentives, could be worth as much as much as $78 million for Stafford.
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, and general manager Martin Mayhew and COO Tom Elwand, set out Wedesday to make a deal with Stafford. Friday night, shortly after 10:30 ET, the deal got done.
This is sort of what we've been expecting. Now, can the Rams sign a deal with the #2 pick? Not exactly. This is what NFL Spokesman Greg Aiello told Primetime in an e-mail about this topic earlier this week:
If the club with the first choice commits to, selects, and signs a player prior to the commencement of the Selection Meeting, the club with the second choice may then talk with players and may reach an agreement with a player of its choice, provided that such agreement cannot be formalized in an NFL Player Contract until the club is on the clock at the Selection Meeting and has selected the player.
Jump right into the comments and let us know how you think this affects the Chiefs.