Everybody dreams of that nice payday, and Arizona Cardinals RB David Johnson just received his, to the tune of $45 million over three years.
Everyone, we have an announcement to make. David Johnson just got paid.
There are many players in the NFL who dream of having a payday like this, especially if they’re coming off of a season-ending injury and the team’s front office isn’t sure if you would make back.
That was the situation for Johnson, who inked a three-year, $39 million contract extension that’s worth as much as $45 million and comes with $30 million in guarantees from the Cardinals, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Johnson has been a revelation at the position ever since he was drafted by the Cardinals in 2015. Though he had a so-so rookie season, there was still promise that he would grow into his role, and become an upper-echelon back.
That occurred in 2016 when he rushed for 1,239 yards and scored 16 touchdowns and led the NFL with 2,118 yards from scrimmage and 20 total touchdowns. It seemed like Johnson had finally arrived, but the cruel reality of playing in the NFL hit when he injured his wrist against the Detroit Lions in the season opener in 2017. Johnson was out for the remainder of the season, and it was unclear of Arizona’s front-office would be confident in giving him an extension before seeing him in action this season.
Well, now we know the answer, and the Cardinals are banking on the hope that Johnson would return to the 2016 form that put him on the map. We feel the Cardinals made the right decision to shore up their position for the next three years and keep Johnson happy in his prime.
Considering the alternative could have looked very similar to what’s going on with Le’Veon Bell and the Steelers, the Cardinals got Johnson signed to a relative bargain.