Paid and Elite: Why Matt Stafford is Deserving of his Mega Extension
On a relatively-slow day in the NFL, the Detroit Lions decided to keep everyone on their toes when they announced a five-year, $135 million contract extension for quarterback Matthew Stafford. The deal, which included a $50 million signing bonus and $92 million guaranteed, made Stafford the highest-paid player in league history.
Of course, that kind of money is well-deserved for the third-best quarterback in the league.
Yes, Matthew Stafford is the third-best quarterback in the NFL; a whole tier behind the all-time greats Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, but nevertheless the next name to be mentioned. Since taking the helm of the Lions, Matthew Stafford has averaged 278 yards per game while completing 61.5 % of his throws. Stafford also has a six-year stretch of 4,200+ yards, with a career high 5,038 in 2011, a mark that is only shared with all-time great Drew Brees.
“But Stafford doesn’t win games!”
When Stafford joined the Lions, they were fresh off an 0–16 season, the most losses in a single season. Safe to say they were not ready to win. In his eight-year career, the Lions have managed a top-10 defense, measured in points and yards, just once in 2014. That lone year, the Lions went 11–5 and made it to the playoffs. Stafford was selected to the Pro Bowl.
“But Stafford’s offense is full of talent!”
Yes, the Lions did have one of the most-talented receivers of this generation in Calvin Johnson. A six-time Pro Bowler and three-time First-Team All-Pro is something starting quarterbacks would salivate over. If only the game plan of throwing to Calvin Johnson was unpredictable. While teams struggled to guard Johnson, his yardage per-season systematically decreased following his 1,964 yard output in 2012. In terms of a running threat, the Lions have only managed one 1,000 yard rusher in Stafford’s career, which Reggie Bush barely made with 1,006 in 2013.
However, the most important factor in their dysfunction very well may be the lack of institutional competency from their coaching staff and upper management. Stafford is now with his third offensive coordinator and second head coach. Ex-general manager Sheldon White and ex-team president Tom Leward were both fired in 2015 after an offseason where they failed to re-sign All-Pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. Inconsistency has haunted this franchise’s history and has limited the potential of their star QB.
When examining signal callers around the league, Stafford has firmly placed himself at number three on a talent-based measure. Brady and Rodgers are well-ahead, but that case cannot be made for other starting quarterbacks. Ben Roethlisberger, Drew Brees, Eli Manning, and Philip Rivers have all declined as they’ve aged and benefit from talent-heavy rosters. Cam Newton and Andrew Luck, have been plagued with injuries. Russell Wilson has seemingly declined the last two seasons and Matt Ryan’s recent success can be attributed to a well tailored offensive scheme. As for the new wave of quarterbacks, (Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston, Derek Carr, Carson Wentz, and Dak Prescott) it is simply too early on in their careers to be considered at such an elite level.
Now paid and ready for the 2017 season, expect more of the same from Stafford as he performs among NFL’s elite. If by some miracle the Lions can do the same, then we may see Stafford finally shake the monkey off of his back and maybe win the big game.
