On August 28, the Detroit Lions announced that they and quarterback Matthew Stafford had reached an agreement on a contract extension that would go through the 2022 campaign.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that the five-year agreement is valued at $135 million. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the agreement includes a $50 million signing bonus and $92 million in guaranteed funds.
Stafford will now be the highest-paid player in the NFL thanks to the contract, according to Schefter.
On Friday, the group shared a photo of the signing:
In 2009, Stafford was selected by the Lions with the first overall pick. Since then, it has been an extremely tumultuous journey. Despite displaying the skill that made him the subject of so much predraft speculation, he has also shown himself to be a fallible passer, as evidenced by his 109 career interceptions and 18 lost fumbles.
In 2016, he did had his second consecutive successful season. According to ESPN.com’s total QBR calculation, the 29-year-old Georgia product was ranked eighth in the NFL. He has thrown 56 touchdowns with a 66.3 percent completion percentage since the beginning of the 2015 season.
Ultimately, since he became the new face of the team, Detroit has made it to the postseason three times. Unfortunately, it has a losing record in its remaining five seasons since 2009 and has fallen in the NFC Wild Card Round each time.
Despite those outcomes and Stafford’s individual stats, which included an 86.8 career passer rating, being fairly mediocre, the Lions felt compelled to provide him a lucrative contract. Spotrac claims that he had a $22 million cap hit in 2017 as part of his prior three-year, $53 million contract.
There is a severe shortage of productive quarterbacks in the NFL compared to demand. Therefore, a significant commitment is necessary even for possibilities like Stafford, who has been excellent at times and difficult at others.
Ultimately, since he became the new face of the team, Detroit has made it to the postseason three times. Unfortunately, it has a losing record in its remaining five seasons since 2009 and has fallen in the NFC Wild Card Round each time.
Despite those outcomes and Stafford’s individual stats, which included an 86.8 career passer rating, being fairly mediocre, the Lions felt compelled to provide him a lucrative contract. Spotrac claims that he had a $22 million cap hit in 2017 as part of his prior three-year, $53 million contract.
There is a severe shortage of productive quarterbacks in the NFL compared to demand. Therefore, a significant commitment is necessary even for possibilities like Stafford, who has been excellent at times and difficult at others.
