Stafford Sizzles, Nails Status as Top QB Prospect
NFL Picks | by Mike O'Hara | 03.31.2009/6:25PM
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They came, they saw – he conquered.
Matt Stafford erased any doubt about his status as the top quarterback in this year’s draft by delivering what one source called a “flawless” performance in a private workout Tuesday for the Lions.
The Lions have the first pick in the draft, and Stafford is one of the players under consideration.
Other candidates are offensive tackles Jason Smith of Baylor and Eugene Monroe of Virginia, and linebacker Aaron Curry of Wake Forest.
The Lions have made Daunte Culpepper their starting quarterback. Currently, only Drew Stanton and Drew Henson are on the roster as backups.
If Stafford’s performance Tuesday does not convince the Lions to draft him, then the logical conclusion is that they never intended to take a quarterback with the first pick overall, preferring to get a player at another position who can provide immediate help.
That, of course, would ignore their 51-year search to settle the position – with only one Pro Bowl performance by a Lions quarterback in that span of ineptitude.
Stafford was impressive at the University of Georgia’s pro-day workout earlier in the month, but Tuesday’s drills were deemed more important because of the nature of the workout.
At his pro day, which included other draft-eligible prospects from the school, Stafford was in charge of setting up the workout.
The Lions were in charge Tuesday. They put him through their own drills, and had said in advance that they wanted to put Stafford in uncomfortable situations to see how he would react.
According to reports by Si.com and ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, Stafford aced the workout, throwing between 40 and 50 passes, with only three incompletions.
The Lions are scheduled to attend Southern Cal’s pro day today. Quarterback Matt Sanchez, another first-round prospect, will work out. The Lions have asked to put Sanchez through an additional 30-minute session after the pro-day workout.
Sanchez is not rated in Stafford’s class.
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