Lions: Stafford Wowed Them In Private Workout

Shortly after University of Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford’s impressive private workout for the Detroit Lions, a league source told us that Stafford was telling former teammates that it was a “done deal” that he would be the top overall pick and that he would be paid nearly $40 million in guaranteed money. Well, our source was absolutely correct on both counts. Lions General Manager Martin Mayhew confirmed today that Stafford emerged as their target as the highest-rated player on their draft board following the workout, according to Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com. “After the private workout, we started feeling really good about him and really comfortable with him,” Mayhew told Detroit reporters. “It’s just the way he carried himself, how smart he was about the game and obviously the way he threw the football, it was very impressive. I was at this pro day and the private workout and this guy can throw the football. We think our fans will be really excited.’' Meanwhile, Stafford said he that didn’t know that his contract, which includes $41.7 million in guaranteed money and was completed Friday night, would be finalized in advance of the draft. “I really didn’t know if it was going to get done or not - even yesterday morning,” Stafford said. “My agent said they had a lot of work to do, as far as writing the contract out and getting it done. I’m just really relieved and just glad we got it done.”