By Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press –
Saints quarterback Drew Brees cashed in his franchise tag for a five-year, $100-million contract with a record $60 million guaranteed Friday, which begs a question the Lions will have to answer in the not-too-distant future: What is Matthew Stafford worth?
Stafford is nine years younger and not nearly as accomplished as the Super Bowl-champion Brees, but the two share an agent in Tom Condon, a spot in the record book as two of four quarterbacks in NFL history with 5,000-yard passing seasons, and Stafford is unquestionably the Lions’ signal caller of the future.
Stafford has two years left on the rookie contract he signed as the first pick in the 2009 draft, so the Lions are a long way from the franchise showdown that netted Brees his mega-deal.
But after converting the bulk of his base pay to signing bonuses the last two years, he does have cumbersome salary-cap numbers of $20 million in 2013 and $19 million in 2014 that could prompt the Lions to try signing him to a long-term extension next off-season (like they did with Calvin Johnson when his cap number became too big this spring).
According to NFL Players Association records, the Lions have 51 players currently under contract for 2013 at a cap value of $121 million, about the projected cap. That doesn’t include potential unrestricted free agents Cliff Avril, Corey Williams, Justin Durant, DeAndre Levy, Chris Houston, Louis Delmas and Gosder Cherilus — all starters.
Two player-side cap analysts said the 24-year-old Stafford, with another standout season this fall, likely will command guaranteed money on his next contract similar to what the 33-year-old Brees got Friday. According to reports, Brees’ deal includes a $37-million signing bonus and $55 million in the first two years.
If Stafford and the Lions wait on an extension, the sides will have more deals at their disposal that could affect negotiations. Joe Flacco (this year), Matt Ryan (2013), Jay Cutler (2013), Aaron Rodgers (2014) and Tom Brady (2014) are among the quarterbacks whose contracts expire before or at the same time as Stafford’s. And the new league TV contracts should begin affecting the salary cap in 2015.
