Stafford Passes Test at Pro Day Workout
NFL Picks | by Mike O'Hara | 03.19.2009/4:06PM
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Matthew Stafford took another step in the draft-evaluation process, and by one noteworthy account, it was a step forward.
Stafford was on target with his passes at his Pro Day workout at the University of Georgia on Thursday. Gil Brandt, the former personnel director of the Dallas Cowboys who follows the prospects for NFL.com, summed up the workout as follows after talking to his sources:
“. . . the big thing is that Stafford showed a strong arm and good accuracy. His second-to-last pass was a 35-yarder down the right sideline that was right on the money to Demiko Goodman.
“What did I learn from Stafford’s workout? That I wouldn’t be worried if I were the Lions about taking him with the No. 1 pick.”
All 32 teams had representatives at the workout, which was for all Georgia prospects, not just Stafford. The Lions’ contingent included GM Martin Mayhew and quarterbacks coach Jeff Horton, according to Brandt.
Stafford threw 50 passes, and Brandt said only three were not on target.
One report said Stafford completed 45 of 50 passes.
Stafford did not throw at the Combine last month in Indianapolis. At Thursday’s Pro Day, he had the benefit of throwing to familiar receivers from Georgia.
Lions coach Jim Schwartz had said previously that he did not plan to attend the Pro Day workout. However, the Lions will schedule a private workout for Matthew, which Schwartz considers to be more important because the team will control the workout.
The Lions already have developed a relationship with Stafford. They had dinner with him during Combine week, and he was in town recently for a visit.
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