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NFL Draft: Detroit Uses Top Pick On Stafford
Jets Trade Up To Get Sanchez At No. 5
POSTED: 12:53 pm MDT April 24,
2009
UPDATED: 8:03 pm MDT April 25,
2009
It's official -- Matthew Stafford is a Detroit Lion.The winless Detroit Lions used the first pick in the NFL draft Saturday on Georgia quarterback Matt Stafford after agreeing to a six-year deal worth at least $41.7 million with the passer late Friday night.Agent Tom Condon and Ben Dogra, who represent Stafford, negotiated the deal that could end up paying Stafford $78 million.In guarantees and maximum value, his contract is more lucrative than the one signed by the first QB taken last year.Matt Ryan, the No. 3 pick in 2008, got $72 million with $34.75 million guaranteed as part of six-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons.The Lions have five of the first 82 picks to help the NFL's first 0-16 team bounce back to respectability.Picking after the Lions were the St. Louis Rams, who chose Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith. Smith, who measures 6 feet 5 inches, is athletic and versatile. Scouts report that his footwork still needs some improvements.At No. 3, the Kansas City Chiefs selected Tyson Jackson, a defensive end out of LSU.The Seattle Seahawks chose Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry at No. 4. Curry, at 6 feet 2 inches and 254 pounds, is tough for opponents to block, but he is known to struggle in pass coverage.The New York Jets traded up to take Mark Sanchez at No. 5. The selection of the USC quarterback thrilled the New York crowd at Radio City Music Hall. Sanchez will replace last year's starter, Brett Favre, who retired during the off-season.The Cincinnati Bengals picked offensive tackle Andre Smith of Alabama at No. 6, and the Oakland Raiders took Maryland wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey at No. 7.The Jacksonville Jaguars took offensive tackle Eugene Monroe at No. 8 and the Green Bay Packers took Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Rajiat No. 9.The San Francisco 49ers rounded out the top 10 by taking wide receiver Michael Crabtree, who was regarded by many as the top receiver in the draft.At No. 11, Buffalo took defensive end Aaron Maybin, and the Denver Broncos took Georgia's Knowshon Moreno -- the first running back taken in the draft -- at No. 12. The Washington Redskins selected Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo at No. 13. New Orleans took corner back Malcolm Jenkins at No. 14 and Houston took linebacker Brian Cushing of USC at No. 15.At No. 16, San Diego selected Northern Illinois defensive end Larry English, followed by Tampa Bay taking quarterback Josh Freeman of Kansas State at No. 17. Denver chose defensive end Robert Ayers of Tennessee at No. 18 and Philadelphia selected Missouri wide receiver Jeremy Maclin at No. 19. Detroit, with its second pick in the first round, closed out the top 20 by taking tight end Brandon Pettigrew of Oklahoma State.Cleveland selected California's Alex Mack at No. 21 before the Minnesota Vikings took Florida wide receiver Perry Harvin at No. 22. Two Mississippi teammates went next, as Baltimore chose Michael Oher at No. 23 and Atlanta took Peria Jerry at No. 24.Miami drafted Illinois corner back Vontae Davis at No. 25 before Green Bay selected USC linebacker Clay Matthews at No. 26 and Indianapolis took running back Donald Brown at No. 27. Buffalo selected Lousiville's Eric Wood at No. 28, the New York Giants took North Carolina wide receiver Hakeem Nicks at No. 29, and Tennessee closed out the top 30 by taking Rutgers wide receiver Kenny Britt.The first round ended with the two Super Bowl teams making their picks. Arizona took Ohio State running back Chris "Beanie" Wells at No. 31, and Pittsburgh, the Super Bowl champ, took Missouri defensive tackle Evander Hood at No. 32.
Second Round Highlights
Detroit opened the second round by selecting Western Michigan safety Louis Delmas.New England has three early second-round picks. The Patriots selected Oregon safety Patrick Chung at No. 34, Boston College defensive tackle Ron Brace at No. 40 and Connecticut corner back Darius Butler at No. 41. New England picked again later in the round and took Houston offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer at No. 58.Denver closed out Saturday's draft action when it took North Carolina tight end Richard Quinn at No. 64.The draft will conclude Sunday with rounds three through seven.Distributed by Internet Broadcasting. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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