ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions have just made Matthew Stafford the highest-paid player in the history of the NFL.
The extension is for five years and worth $135 million, according to ESPN. That's $27 million annually, which shatters the league mark set by Derek Carr ($25 million). The deal includes a $50 million signing bonus and $92 million in guarantees, both of which are also league highs.
Not bad for a guy who has already pocketed more money through age 28 than any player in NFL history ($110.5 million).
Stafford, now 29, is coming off one of the best seasons of his career. His 65.3 percent completion percentage was the second best of his career, his 10 picks were a low for a full season, and he guided the Lions to an NFL-record eight fourth-quarter comebacks. He even floated into the MVP discussion, until a late-season finger injury took a bite into his numbers.
With just one year left on his deal, Stafford and the Lions began trying to work out an extension back in the spring. The sides remained far apart at the outset of camp, but with the quarterback reluctant to negotiate during the season, the sides came together quickly in the last couple weeks.
Now it's a done deal, and Stafford will remain under the Lions control through at least 2022.
