Lions sign Matthew Stafford to historic five-year contract extension
One of the biggest free agents in the upcoming 2018 offseason is now off the market
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford has signed a five-year contract extension that will make him the highest-paid player in NFL history. This according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, who broke the story late Monday evening.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport says the deal is worth $135 million over the five years.
Earlier in the offseason, the Oakland Raiders signed quarterback Derek Carr to a contract paying $25 million per season, and Stafford’s deal surpasses that by a wide margin. It ultimately resets the quarterback market for Redskins starter Kirk Cousins, who enters 2017 under the franchise tag for a second consecutive year.
The first-overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft out of Georgia, Stafford took over a winless Detroit club that has made the playoffs three years under his watch. However, the Lions have never advanced past the wild card round.
After starting in only 13 games in his first two seasons Stafford has not missed a regular season start in six seasons. He’s already set the franchise career passing yard and touchdown records and is two wins short of Bobby Layne’s record for wins by a quarterback.
Stafford’s next step will be to win a playoff game, something the Lions haven’t done since 1991 and win the franchise’s first Super Bowl. Detroit hasn’t won a championship since 1957.
With Stafford now off the quarterback market teams will likely approach Cousins and New England backup Jimmy Garoppolo, barring a franchise tag. Teddy Bridgewater, Sam Bradford, and Drew Brees are also expected to hit the free agent market next winter.