INDIANAPOLIS — Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry was supposed to have dinner with Lions officials Saturday, but he had to reschedule because of medical testing related to a stinger he suffered in 2008.

"A lot of doctors in the building said there was nothing wrong with my X-rays," Curry said at the NFL Scouting Combine. "But I mean, when you're making such a large investment, why not make a double-check?"

Whomever the Lions draft No. 1 overall April 25 is expected to receive about $30 million guaranteed. The stakes are high, and they are double- and triple-checking candidates.

The Lions had meals with Southern Cal quarterback Mark Sanchez and Georgia QB Matthew Stafford on Thursday. They reportedly were scheduled to have dinner with Virginia offensive tackle Eugene Monroe on Friday, but his schedule allowed only a meeting with general manager Martin Mayhew.

Analysts consider Curry the safest pick in the draft — if there is such a thing — and the Lions have a desperate need at linebacker.

On the weak side, they have Ernie Sims, whom they drafted ninth overall in 2006. But the other two spots are open. Middle linebacker Paris Lenon and strong-side linebacker Ryan Nece are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents Friday.

Curry, 6-feet-1, 254 pounds, played on the strong side in college. He said he could play all three positions in a 4-3 defense, which the Lions are expected to run, but he has spent only five or six practices in the middle.

"He's not going to be a bust," ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said. "He's going to give you everything he has. He's got great character. He's got versatility. He can cover. He can rush the passer.

"Aaron Curry would probably fall into that category as the safest guy — maybe not a boom, but certainly not a bust."

Is a strong-side linebacker worth the No. 1 pick in the draft? Not if he has to be replaced by a nickel back in passing situations.

"Any linebacker that you're going to draft early, part of that requirement's probably going to be that he has to be on the field for three downs," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. "You don't want a high draft pick that you're afraid to have on the field for third down."

But Schwartz said he looked at Curry before coming to Indianapolis and thinks Curry is unique — big, strong, athletic and able to fit in a lot of places.

"He played (on the strong side), but it was interesting at Wake, he played an on-the-ball (strong-side) linebacker, which not many people play anymore," Schwartz said. "You have to be really strong to be able to do that. ...

"But they put him out in space, almost like a nickel back. Those are two almost sort of mutually exclusive skill sets. The fact that they had trusted him to do both, that spoke a lot about him."

Curry has Lions lineage. His father, Reggie Pinkney, played for the Lions in 1977-78.

"It is ironic to know my dad did it some years back and that it could happen again," Curry said.

If it doesn't happen, the Lions could take a linebacker at No. 20 or 33.

Curry won the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker in 2008. Ohio State's James Laurinaitis won it in 2007. He said he could play all three positions but seems to fit best in the middle.

"I like being in charge," Laurinaitis said. "I like being the leader of the defense. I like making the calls. And being in the middle, I like having a chance to make every play."

Other linebackers analysts think could go in the first or second round: Southern Cal's Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews, Penn State's Aaron Maybin and Northern Illinois' Larry English.

Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said the draft is "deep at linebacker, but we'll see. We'll see exactly how deep that position is.

"There might be some headliners, some exciting guys early, but that doesn't mean it's going to be a deep class into the second and third round and stuff."

Curry hopes he doesn't last nearly that long.

"If I could pick, sure, I would go No. 1 overall," Curry said. "It would just be a great feeling to go out to Detroit and play alongside with Ernie Sims."