It doesn’t matter how NFL-ready a rookie is considered; a team coming off arguably the worst season in NFL history should not be spending the kind of money the Detroit Lions did on quarterback Matthew Stafford when it has more pressing issues.
Before Stafford’s name was called Saturday afternoon at Radio City Music Hall as the No. 1 overall pick, he agreed to a six-year, $78 million contract with $41.7 million guaranteed with a Lions team that did the unthinkable in 2008 by going 0-16.
The guaranteed money is the most given to any player in NFL history, surpassing the $41 million the Washington Redskins gave defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth in February.
Even though Lions’ quarterback play last season was one of the many reasons they did not win a game, spending that much money on a player who may not be the day-one starter is absurd. Detroit signed veteran quarterback Daunte Culpepper last season, and it is predicted he will be under center in the season-opener on Sept. 13 against the New Orleans Saints.
This kind of money is a statement from a Lions’ front office that it is making a concerted effort away from the direction the team has been spiraling toward under recently-removed president Matt Millen.
Still, the statement implies that the Lions are not as worried about fixing their defense. Last season the defense ranked last in points allowed per game (32.3), yards allowed (404.4), rush yards allowed (172.1) and ranked 27th in pass yards allowed (232.2).
The money they are giving to Stafford could be put to better use on the other side of the ball. The Lions will not be a playoff contender if they have an all-pro quarterback but an Arena League-caliber defense.
Also, it has yet to be seen whether or not Stafford will become the next Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf. Both quarterbacks were considered to be the best players coming out of the 1998 NFL Draft, but they took different career paths.
Manning still is with the team that drafted him, the Indianapolis Colts, and is one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks. Leaf was drafted by the San Diego Chargers and lasted four seasons that were highlighted by videos of self-destruction that can be found all over YouTube.
Everyone in Detroit should pray that Stafford is not the next Leaf, and that by the time he takes his first NFL snap he has a defense that will give him an opportunity to win games.
-Jono Greco is a journalism sophomore.
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