The Detroit Lions and quarterback Matthew Stafford are on the verge of a contract extension , ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, the extension is for three seasons , which will keep Stafford under contract through the 2017 season. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com reports the value of the three-year extension is worth $53 million in "new money" , bringing Stafford's compensation over the next five seasons to $76.5 million, of which Florio adds $43 million is guaranteed. The $15.3 million average per year (APY) on the total deal is identical to the average Philip Rivers received from the San Diego Chargers in 2009 and is on par with the $15.5 million average that Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub received in the extension he signed on Sept. 8, 2012. However, Stafford's $43 million in guaranteed money exceeds the guarantees received by Rivers ($38.15 million) and Schaub ($25.25 million). Stafford's $17.667 million average per year in "new money" is just below the $18 million per year average received by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo on April 1, 2013. Stafford was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2009 NFL draft out of Georgia. After struggling through shoulder and knee injuries during his first two seasons in the NFL, Stafford has emerged as one of the most productive quarterbacks in the league. Stafford is one of four quarterbacks to throw for over 5,000 yards in a single season, has led the NFL in passing attempts in each of the last two seasons, led the NFL with 435 completions in 2012, and has 10,005 yards with 61 touchdowns and 33 interceptions in his last 32 games. Overall, the 25-year-old Stafford has completed 59.8 percent of his 1,863 pass attempts for 12,807 yards with 80 touchdowns and 54 interceptions. Stafford trails only Hall of Famer Bobby Layne for passing yards and passing touchdowns in Lions' history, marks he should easily surpass within the next season or two. This is not the first time the Lions and Stafford have agreed to a renegotiated contract.
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