Matthew Stafford reached a brand-new deal with the Detriot Lions that made him the highest paid player in the NFL. As soon as Stafford's deal hit the press, a lot of attention started to focus on his division rival Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers upcoming contract negotiations. While that might scare some Packers faithful, the good news is that Rodgers doesn't seem to care how much Stafford is making - at least not right now.
Matthew Stafford's deal
It was clear that the Detriot Lions prize Matthew Stafford as their starting quarterback.
While teams like the Washington Redskins don't seem willing to pony up money for their quarterback Kirk Cousins, Stafford's deal went by quickly and without a hitch. The totals by the time all was said and done saw Detriot pay Stafford $135 million over five seasons.
"I want to be in Detroit," Stafford said. "And you never know if that's always going to work out or not, but that was my wish and intention."
The contract averages out to be $27 million a season, which is more than former No. 1 contracted quarterback Andrew Luck ($24.5 million) and Derek Carr ($25 million), who eclipsed him earlier this offseason with a new deal. Even bigger, Stafford was also guaranteed $60.5 million at the minute he signed the deal.
Those three quarterbacks have one thing in common. None of them have ever played in a Super Bowl. Aaron Rodgers has won a Super Bowl and he ranks eighth in the NFL in average salary at $22 million.
Aaron Rodgers talks contract
Aaron Rodgers is in the middle of a five-year contract that was worth $110 million. His guarantee was only $33.2 million but there is no way he won't max out his deal.
In 2017, Rodgers will make $20.3 million. He also has a potential out in his Green Bay Packers contract in 2018 and the Matthew Stafford contract makes that possible.
Aaron Rodgers told Sporting News that he isn't going anywhere and isn't looking for more money right now.
"How it affects me?" Rodgers said when asked about the Matthew Stafford deal.
"I think we're a couple of years away [from negotiation]."
Green Bay Packers might remember that, when Aaron Rogers signed his deal in 2013, he was the highest paid player in the NFL. That number will just keep rising and teams can't just keep trying to beat it every time someone new moves to the top. Green Bay showed their loyalty when they paid Rodgers in 2013 and now he has a chance to show his loyalty to the franchise as well.
