Stafford picked first by Lions

NEW YORK — One of the biggest rebuilding jobs in NFL history has its centerpiece.

Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford was drafted first overall Saturday by the Detroit Lions, the only team to ever go 0-16 in a season.

A few picks later, the New York Jets made a big move: They traded up and took Southern California quarterback Mark Sanchez. They made the deal with Cleveland, now guided by former Jets coach Eric Mangini.

Stafford, who left school a year early, signed a six-year deal with $41.7 million in guarantees and a maximum value of $78 million, even though he is not expected to start immediately as a rookie.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself to be great anyway,” Stafford said.

The Lions, whose poor draft history this decade under Matt Millen eventually led to the winless season, have veteran Daunte Culpepper as the projected starter this year under new coach Jim Schwartz. That should give the 21-year-old Stafford a chance to watch and learn.

Still, the pick was greeted with loud boos and chants of “OVERRATED” from the fans at Radio City Music Hall.

Stafford stepped outside of a restaurant where he was with about 20 people, including his parents, to talk to agent Tom Condon, who had just completed negotiations with the Lions.

“I went back in and gave everybody the thumbs up,” Stafford said.

Then Stafford picked up the check.

Nine of the last 12 top overall picks have been quarterbacks. They have included the likes of Peyton and Eli Manning. And Tim Couch, David Carr and Alex Smith.

Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith was the second pick, by the St. Louis Rams. The 6-foot-4, 306-pound former tight end should be used to playing for a weak team: Baylor was 18-31 in his four years there.

Kansas City, like St. Louis, used nearly all 10 of its minutes seeking a trade before selecting LSU defensive end Tyson Jackson. He will join college teammate Glenn Dorsey on the Chiefs’ defensive line.

Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry, who had spoken with Detroit about being the top overall pick, landed in Seattle at No. 4. Curry is considered capable of playing inside or outside in the pros.

Then came Saturday’s first trade, with the Jets doing business with the coach they fired, of all people. Mangini’s Cleveland Browns sent the fifth selection to New York, prompting wild cheering in the arena. When the Jets chose Sanchez, the fans had equally vociferous positive and negative reactions that included chants of “J-E-T-S” and, again, “OVERRATED.”

Sanchez started for just one season at USC, leading the Trojans to a 12-1 record and a Rose Bowl victory. He had six career starts in college.

New York sent the No. 17 and No. 52 overall choices, plus defensive end Kenyon Coleman, safety Abram Elam and quarterback Brett Ratliff, to Cleveland.