Last year at this time, Matthew Stafford signed a contract worth more than $42 million guaranteed with the Lions. The league's No. 1 draft pick in 2010, QB Sam Bradford, should earn even more, perhaps as much as $47 million guaranteed. And at some point this offseason, the Patriots — much like the Colts with Peyton Manning — will have to pay their franchise quarterback, Tom Brady, at a commensurate level. The guaranteed money could be dizzying, somewhere in the $16-million-to-$20-million range per season. He already has collected a $3 million roster bonus in early March, so it was clear the Patriots did not want to rush a new deal just to save some money on the front end. Despite some uncharacteristic mistakes in crucial situations last season by Brady, a contract extension for the QB remains the highest priority for the Patriots this offseason once the draft is in the rearview mirror.

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