#1 NFL Draft Pick Is Georgia's Stafford
One of the biggest rebuilding jobs in NFL history has its centerpiece.
Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford was drafted first overall Saturday by the Detroit Lions, the only team to ever go 0-16 in a season.
The junior already has agreed to a six-year deal with $41.7 million in guarantees and a maximum value of $78 million, even though he is not expected to start as a rookie.
"I put a lot of pressure on myself to be great anyway," Stafford said.
The Lions, whose poor draft history this decade under Matt Millen eventually led to the winless season, have veteran Daunte Culpepper as the projected starter this year under new coach Jim Schwartz. That should give the 21-year-old Stafford a chance to watch and learn.
Still, the pick was greeted with loud boos and chants of "OVERRATED" from the fans at Radio City Music Hall.
Stafford stepped outside of a restaurant where he was with about 20 people, including his parents, to talk to agent Tom Condon, who had just completed negotiations with the Lions.
"I went back in and gave everybody the thumbs up," Stafford said. Then Stafford picked up the check.
Nine of the last 12 top overall picks have been quarterbacks. They have included the likes of Peyton and Eli Manning. And Tim Couch, David Carr and Alex Smith.
Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith was the second pick, by the St. Louis Rams. The 6-foot-4, 306-pound former tight end should be used to playing for a weak team: Baylor was 18-31 in his four years there.
See more draft coverage at CBSSports.com including pick-by-pick grades and analysis from Pete Prisco
In the third pick of the first round, the Kansas City Chiefs chose Louisiana State University defensive end Tyson Jackson. He will join college teammate Glenn Dorsey on the Chiefs' defensive line.
The Seattle Seahawks selected Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry fourth overall, surprising many analysts who thought Seattle would choose University of Southern California quarterback Mark Sanchez to relieve the ailing Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.
The New York Jets traded up into the fifth position to take Sanchez, a move met with praise from Jets fans at Radio City Music Hall.
But the Jets paid a heavy price to land a new franchise quarterback. To move up and take the Cleveland Brown's fifth-overall draft spot, the Jets gave up their first and second round picks in this year's draft plus three players: The Browns got the Jets' first- and second-round picks in this year's draft, plus three players: defensive end Kenyon Coleman, quarterback Brett Ratliff and defensive back Abram Elam.
Sanchez started for just one season at USC, leading the Trojans to a 12-1 record and a Rose Bowl victory. He had six career starts in college.
Cleveland is now guided by former Jets coach Eric Mangini.
Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith went sixth, to the Cincinnati Bengals, which has struggled on offense in recent years.
The Oakland Raiders defied expectations by taking Maryland wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey seventh. Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree was widely expected to be the top receiver taken in the draft.
The University of Virginia's Eugene Monroe became the third offensive tackle chosen in the top 10, taken by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the eighth overall pick.
Rounding out the top 10 picks, the Green Bay Packers took Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji in the nith spot and the San Francisco 49ers took Crabtree.