Matthew Stafford and the Lions got a deal done before the regular season, after all.
The team announced the quarterback agreed to a five-year contract on Monday night.
The deal is worth an average of $27 million annually, Detroit Free Press beat writer Dave Birkett reports. The amount exceeds Derek Carr's contract with the Raiders worth $25 million annually, making Stafford the highest paid quarterback in the NFL.
ESPN's Adam Schefter adds that Stafford's deal includes a $50 million signing bonus and $92 million in guaranteed money, both NFL highs.
Stafford was entering the last season of his $53 million, three-year contract. He stood to get quite a raise and did, getting more than the $125 million, five-year contract the Oakland Raiders gave Derek Carr this summer.
Detroit drafted Stafford No. 1 overall in 2009. He helped the Lions reach the playoffs last season for the third time in six seasons.
