The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/24/09 Section: Sports

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Media Credit: DANIEL SHIREY [Click to enlarge]

Former Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford has agreed to a contract with the Detroit Lions and will be the first overall pick in Saturday's NFL draft.

According to John Clayton of ESPN, Stafford has agreed in principle to a six-year $41.7 million contract that could be worth $78 million with incentives.

The deal is the richest in history for a top pick, topping the five-year $57.5 million the Miami Dolphins gave offensive tackle Jake Long last year.

Meanwhile, a couple potential mid-rounders and a few more former Bulldogs are just looking to latch on with a team today and Sunday during the NFL Draft. Here's some statistics to get you going:

Eight quarterbacks have been drafted No. 1 overall (four from the SEC) in the last 10 years, but with mixed success:

1998: Peyton Manning, Tennessee - One of the best quarterbacks in the league today, and probably one of the best ever.

1999: Tim Couch, Kentucky - After a few years, the Browns stopped trying.

2001: Michael Vick, Virginia Tech - After electrifying spectators with his athletic

ability, Vick struggled under former Atlanta coach Jim Mora, Jr.'s west coast offensive scheme, and then ran into some legal troubles involving a dog fighting ring.

2002: David Carr, Fresno State - Sacked a record 76 times his rookie season in Houston, Carr is now Eli Manning's backup in New York.

2003: Carson Palmer, USC: Had a good run with the Bengals for a while, though they're one of the worst teams in the NFL now.

2004: Eli Manning, Ole Miss: Drafted by the Chargers and traded to the Giants, Manning won a Super Bowl the year after his brother, upsetting the then-undefeated Patriots.

2005: Alex Smith, Utah: He has started games with the 49ers, but hasn't wowed anybody yet.

2007: Jamarcus Russell, LSU: Still early, but he's been a bust so far for the Raiders.

Five quarterbacks have been taken by the Detroit Lions with its first round pick. The Lions, which went 0-16 last season, have selected their fair share of QBs and it hasn't been pretty:

1986: Chuck Long, 1st round: 4-17 as a starter for the Lions.

1990: Andre Ware, 1st round: 3-3 as a starter.

1998: Charlie Batch, 2nd round: 19-27 as a starter.

2002: Joey Harrington, 1st round: 18-37 as a starter.

2007: Drew Stanton, 2nd round: Has yet to start a game for the Lions.

Four other Bulldogs not named Matthew Stafford waiting to hear their names announced on Draft Day:

TB Knowshon Moreno - Moreno looks to be a mid-first round selection, despite poor 40-yard-dash times at the NFL Combine and Georgia's Pro Day.

WR Mohamed Massaquoi - Could make the first-day cut with a second-round selection, but more likely an early selection on Sunday.

DB Asher Allen - See Massaquoi.

LB Dannell Ellerbe - See Massaquoi.

Two Bulldogs hoping to get drafted:

DB C.J. Byrd - Put up big numbers at Georgia's Pro Day and could make a roster as a late-round pick or as an undrafted free agent.

DT Corvey Irvin - Irvin made a splash this year after Jeff Owens suffered a season-ending injury.

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