Final Suh number: $40 million guaranteed 
August, 3, 2010

By Kevin Seifert

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Let's close the circle on an issue we've been discussing over the past week: The amount of guaranteed money the Detroit Lions would ultimately pay rookie defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and how it would compare to what quarterback Matthew Stafford received last year.

The final number is in: According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Lions guaranteed $40 million in the five-year deal. Stafford received $41.7 million guaranteed, but his deal was one year longer.

So the comparison ends up being a case of apples and oranges, something I probably didn't make clear enough as an option in earlier discussions. Stafford got a bit more money, but Suh technically will be in line for a new deal in less time, depending on the future state of the collective bargaining agreement.

Former Green Bay Packers salary negotiator Andrew Brandt made an interesting point over at the National Football Post, suggesting Suh's agents floated the original suggestions that he was seeking more than $50 million guaranteed in order to cast the eventual deal as a significant compromise. In reality, the guarantee was a 21 percent raise over what last year's No. 2 overall pick, offensive tackle Jason Smith, received from the St. Louis Rams. Regardless, it's time to put our contract hats away for another offseason -- or, at least, until some NFC North team decides to give their quarterback more money or something.