As the 2013 offseason trend appears to be giving quarterbacks large contract extension, Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford may or may not get to participate. Stafford is entering into the final two years of his current rookie contract signed back in 2009 when he was selected as the No. 1 overall player. It seems only natural that discussions have begun about a nice extension. However, if a deal is not done soon, those negotiations will be tabled for the rest of the season.
Lions president Tom Lewand remains optimistic that the team can get an extension deal in place before the season begins, but acknowledged that talks will not get in the way for football for 2013.
"We've still got some discussions to have, but at some point in time we'll either get a deal done or we'll focus on football. It's a different dynamic when you have two years left on a contract versus one. Most of them get done with a year left. And we've worked through a lot of those issues and continue to do that, want to continue dialogue. But at some point in time we'll either have a deal or we'll agree that the focus needs to be on what's going on on the field," Lewand said.
Stafford will be a $20.8 million cap hit next season and a $19.3 million hit in 2014. Those are both pretty hefty hits, something the Lions would love to reduce before the season begins in an effort to free themselves up for future moves. If the team does not get a deal done before next season, they risk having to use a $23.2 million franchise tag on Stafford or risk losing him in the free agent market.
The Lions also want to avoid what happened with the Baltimore Ravens when the team was working on an extension with Joe Flacco. Flacco signed a $120-million deal with $51 million in guaranteed money. The Ravens waited too long to sign him to a deal and essentially cost themselves more money than necessary.
If a deal is not complete by the start of the 2013 season and Stafford has another standout season, he could earn an even larger paycheck. Newly acquired running back Reggie Bush is certainly impressed with what he has seen from the quarterback, giving him some loft comparisons.
"Stafford is a really good quarterback and he reminds me a lot of Drew when Drew first got to New Orleans. Still young, and has a long ways to go in his career, but he's very talented," Bush said.
The running back is certainly Stafford can produce a Super Bowl win much like Brees did. Detroit Lions fans are hoping so as well.