Should the Lions pass on No. 1 pick?

There’s a notion currently making its rounds on the net that the Lions should allow the time to expire on draft day and pass on the No. 1 pick, essentially relieving themselves of the financial burden that comes along with having the top overall selection.

Given how ridiculous the rookie salaries are these days in the NFL and the fact that it’s a weak draft class, the idea makes sense. If the Lions allow the Rams, Chiefs or Seahawks to select before they do, then they’ll be on the hook financially for the No. 2, No. 3 or No. 4 pick and not the top spot.

But while in theory it makes sense, realistically Detroit could lose more than it gains in the end. First of all, the Lions have holes all over their roster and they need to address those needs by getting quality players. And if they do strike gold with those selections, whether they pay now or later, they’ll eventually have to pay. To be clearer, if they allow the clock to expire and take Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford at No. 3 instead of No. 1 and he becomes a Pro Bowler over the next couple years, his next contract is going to be hefty regardless of what he signed his rookie deal for. So again, whether they pay now or later, they’ll have to pay if they wind up getting a good player.

And let’s say the Lions do draft Stafford, considering he plays quarterback (the highest paid position on the roster), then he’s probably going to become one the highest paid quarterbacks in the league regardless of if they take him at No. 1 or No. 3 (or No. 2 or No. 4, etc.). Case in point, the Falcons selected quarterback Matt Ryan with the No. 3 overall pick last year, then signed him to a six-year, $72 million contract, which included $34.75 million in guarantees. He became the third highest paid player in the NFL, ranking him behind only Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger.

So if the Lions want Stafford, they’ll have to pony up regardless whether they wait or not. And if they truly want him, why would they risk not being able to select him if they let the clock expire? It makes little to no sense. If Detroit is that concerned about saving money, then they should take linebacker Aaron Curry because he would not only address a need, but ‘backers make significantly less than quarterbacks, regardless of where they’re taken in the first round.

The Lions should worry less about how much they’re going to pay a prospect and more about what prospect they’re going to take. GM Martin Mayhew has zero room for error after the disastrous 0-16 season that the team compiled last year. (And I know that wasn’t Mayhew’s fault, but unfortunately he has to deal with the mess Matt Millen left behind.)

Forget about letting the time expire – just get the pick right, Martin.