Report: Lions Near Deal With Stafford

University of Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford is on the verge of striking a deal with the Detroit Lions to become the top overall pick of the draft, according to Dave Birkett of the Oakland Press. Per the unconfirmed report, Lions team president Tom Lewand, the team’s chief negotiator, has sought final approval from team owner William Clay Ford. A deal could reportedly be completed at some point today. Citing a source, Birkett writes that it would require a “catastrophe” for the Lions to not land Stafford as the No. 1 overall pick of the draft. We heard separately from a league source that Stafford was so confident that he would ultimately be the Lions’ guy that he has been telling former Georgia teammates that he’ll be the No. 1 pick and receive a deal with nearly $40 million in guaranteed money.