It was probably inevitable – two disciples of the Matt Millen era in Detroit continued his legacy of building around skill-position players Friday night as multiple reports have come out indicating that the Lions have, in fact, inked quarterback Matthew Stafford to a six-year, $72 million deal with nearly $42 million of it guaranteed.
While drafting Stafford makes more sense than taking wide receivers in the first round three seasons in a row, we at Zoneblitz have long been on record believing Detroit should be waiting a year to grab a franchise QB while instead focusing on its long ignored issues on the offensive and defensive lines.
Experts’ opinions on Stafford are mixed. Some believe his strong arm and field-general skills make him the next great quarterback. Others question why, despite being surrounded by fantastic talent at Georgia, he couldn’t take the team further.
Detroit fans have to be hoping they won’t be asking themselves that same question 10 or 12 years down the road.
The signing leaves the St. Louis Rams on the clock.
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It’s Draft Day, so I felt the need to spend a little time over here on the Dark Side.
I just would like to make a desperate plea to my team, the Minnesota Vikings, to please NOT draft Percy Harvin. Go get a right tackle. Get creative. Brad, I know the idea of doing anything that’s not utterly boring makes you break out in hives, but wouldn’t it be cool if you actually got to 22, saw that Eben Britton was still on the board, realized he’d still be there at 28 or 29, and moved down a few spots to pick up a fourth rounder or a couple of sixes, and still got the guy you SHOULD take? I know. Way too far outside the box for you. I just thought I’d make the suggestion.
The right side of the Vikings line has been an issue for two or three years. When you have a guy like Adrian Peterson, it’s a crime to not build the best possible line in front of him that you can. Think Emmit Smith and the ’90’s Cowboys. That’s what we should be trying to create. Also, when you have the, um, talent(?) we have at quarterback, what the hell are you doing brininging in a guy who will only get frustrated that there isn’t anyone to get him the ball? It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.
Or you could be really bold and trade up to take Michael Oher. Too much to ask? Ok. Whatever.
Good call Rich. Move up for Oher. Move down for Loadtree or Britton.