Detroit – Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn confirmed there’s still a lot of work to be done on a contract extension for quarterback Matthew Stafford, but also expressed continued confidence an agreement will ultimately be reached.

Quinn’s comments to fans at Family Day at Ford Field would seem to echo an NFL Network report from earlier this week that a significant gap remained in talks between the two sides.

"There’s still a long way to go with that,” Quinn said when asked by event MC Dan Miller, the team’s play-by-play announcer.

Stafford is entering the final year of a three-year extension he signed with the Lions in 2013.

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The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft, Stafford is coming off one of his best seasons, completing 65.3 percent of his passes for 4,327 yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also orchestrated eight come-from-behind victories in the fourth quarter, a single-season record.

With his next deal, Stafford is poised to become the NFL’s highest-paid player, topping the five-year, $125 million pact signed by Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr earlier this offseason.

If the Lions are unable to reach an agreement with Stafford before next offseason, the team will likely use the franchise tag on the quarterback. The tag is currently projected to be $26.4 million.