I find this pick extraordinarily boring. So much for creativity and imagination on the part of the Lions. Way to do exactly what ALL the pundits have been predicting for months.
But seriously . . . $41.7 million in guaranteed money? Are you KIDDING me? That is a
20 percent increase in guaranteed money over what Matt Ryan received last year. In these troubled times, where on earth does the justification for a 20% inflation rate in rookie guaranteed money arise? If Stafford never plays another down in the NFL, he will still have received
57.92% of his contract; that is unconscionable in my opinion.
If this inflation rate holds approximately true to form (it's never a completely linear equation), that means that the #9 pick will receive approximately $18.72 million in guaranteed cash. I can't see Ted Thompson paying that for . . .
anyone who will still be available at #9, so unless no other team is prepared to make a deal, I think it's safe to predict that he will trade down.
I guess we can at least thank the Lions for doing their part to virtually guarantee that the owners will demand a rookie salary cap in the upcoming CBA.
On the other hand, given that Aaron Curry was shopping himself to the Lions relatively cheaply, and especially with word leaking that St. Louis has bought Mark Sanchez a
plane ticket , some scouts are speculating that we may be on the verge of witnessing a precipitous Aaron Curry slide (
edit: I seem to have lost the URL, sorry). It will be interesting to see what happens.