Detroit Lions are finalizing a deal to make QB Matthew Stafford the #1 overall pick

From Steve Wyche at NFL.com:

The Lions are in negotiations to finalize a contract with Georgia QB Matthew Stafford, who would be the No. 1 overall draft pick Saturday.

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An accord could be reached as soon as Wednesday night. Lions officials have been negotiating with Tom Condon and Ben Dogra, who not only represent Stafford but also Baylor OT Jason Smith. Smith is believed to be an option for the Lions should a deal with Stafford not materialize. Detroit also is considering Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry, whom many consider the most complete player in the draft.

The negotiations with Curry could be a bluff by the Detroit Lions to get Stafford and his reps down to a more manageable contract. The Lions do NOT want to pay Matthew Stafford a contract like the one JaMarcus Russell got from Oakland a few years ago. Curry is their possible bluff because Curry stated this week that he'd be willing to take less money than last year's #1 overall pick, Jake Long.

Selecting Stafford will not sit well with Detroit fans, and Mocking Dan has already stated he thinks Curry is the smart pick. However, from a pure dollars-and-sense standpoint, it does not make financial sense to give a linebacker like Curry #1 overall pick money, even at a bargain basement price. That would mean the Lions would have a substantial amount of their cap locked up in linebackers who do not rush the passer (Detroit will likely play Cover-2 in 2009 under new head coach Jim Schwartz because Schwartz ran a Cover-2 variant in Tennessee).

#1 overall money is usually reserved for QBs and OTs, and if the Lions feel Stafford has the tools to succeed in this league, then it makes sense to draft Stafford #1 overall.