ESPN Ranks Calvin Johnson One Of NFL's Most Overpaid Veterans
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
CBS DETROIT - Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson is one of the most overpaid veterans in the league, according to a Pro Football Focus model that purports to determine, based on a player's production, how much he should count against the salary cap.
Per the model, Johnson should be paid $8.8 million in 2015, but his cap hit will $20.6 million.
"From 2011 to 2013, Johnson ranked among the top six in PFF's yards per route run metric, including leading the league in 2013 at 2.72," wrote Nathan Jahnke, the creator of the model, in an article for the subscriber-only ESPN Insider. "He regressed in 2014 to 2.29, good for just 10th best in the league. He turns 30 on Sept. 29, and after this season he still has four years left on his contract with a cap hit of over $17 million in all four years. Despite his tremendous talent, Johnson will likely remain among the overpaid for the next several seasons."
It should be noted that last season Johnson missed three games due to injury and, for the same reason, was a shell of himself and essentially playing a decoy role in several other games. Over 13 games in which he played, Johnson amassed 1,077 yards on 71 catches.
The Lions signed Johnson to an eight-year deal in 2012. Johnson, the second overall pick of the 2007 draft, is widely expected to be in the Hall of Fame once he retires.
ESPN's list of overpaid veterans also included New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, and Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler.
