ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions were determined not to go into the NFL draft today without their No. 1 target signed, sealed and delivered. They finally got their man.

The Lions signed Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford to a six-year contract late Friday and, according to a league source, Stafford will receive $41.7 million in guaranteed money and $72 million overall.Stafford will earn about $12 million per season over his six-year deal, while Matt Ryan, who was the No. 3 pick last year to the Atlanta Falcons, had inked a deal worth about $11 million per season.

Negotiations between the Lions and Stafford turned up in intensity Wednesday after Detroit had reached an agreement on contract terms with Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry. The Lions wanted to have a Plan B in place in case contract talks with Stafford -- their No. 1 target -- broke down.

The Lions wanted to get a deal done with their top draft pick before the start of the draft at 4 p.m. Saturday.

This week, Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said he liked Detroit's chances of getting their potential No. 1 pick signed early.

"I think very good," Mayhew said. "That was our plan -- we talked about that back at the combine --and it's very important. We plan on getting something done prior to making that selection."

Under league rules, the Lions are the only team allowed to sign a potential draft pick to a contract before the start of the draft.

"I think you have that opportunity to get that done. You know you have that player through the entire offseason, you don't have a contentious situation with the player, you don't have a holdout," Mayhew said. "The upside is that you definitely want to get that done when you've got the opportunity early."

Two years ago, the Oakland Raiders took quarterback JaMarcus Russell with the top overall choice and he was a holdout through the offseason and all of training camp. He started one game as a rookie.

Mayhew said some players handle a holdout better than others, but the Lions are in a position where they do not have to deal with that issue.

"It varies from player to player. I think some guys are more affected by it than others," Mayhew said. "Some guys can miss two days and they'll be so far behind it'll be hard for them to catch up. Some guys can miss a week and jump right now.

"I think it's important to know we've got a player signed and he'll be here whenever the rookies come back, he'll be here throughout training camp. It's just one less thing for that player to have to worry about it."

After the Lions get the situation at No. 1 settled, they still have a lot of work to do. They have five total picks in the top 82: No. 1, 20, 33, 65 and 82.

The Lions have had the NFL's worst-ranked defense in each of the past two seasons, and while Mayhew wants to fill some roster holes on that side of the ball, he said the team will draft for value -- even if that means taking offensive players.

Detroit, which did not receive much action in terms of trading down from the No. 1 pick, will entertain offers to move down with its other picks.

Mayhew said his philosophy would be to trade down and acquire more draft picks instead of trade up and lose them.