Cardinals Sign David Johnson To Extension

Despite it being reported that there would likely be no agreement between the Cardinals and David Johnson on a new deal before the season started, a deal on an extension has been reached according to Adam Schefter of ESPN (Twitter link).

Schefter reports the deal is for three years and $39MM. It’s worth “up to” $45MM presumably through incentives. The deal will keep Johnson in Arizona through the 2021 season. Johnson didn’t do quite as well as Todd Gurley did on his recent extension but it’s still a huge sum of money, especially for a running back.

$30MM of the deal is guaranteed at signing for Johnson, who broke onto the scene with a dominant 2016. He missed almost the entire 2017 season with a wrist injury, but is fully healthy heading into 2017. Previously set to enter the final year of his deal, Johnson will turn 27 in December.

Taken in the third round out of Northern Iowa back in 2015, Johnson put up 1,239 yards on the ground, and another 879 through the air in 2016, with 20 total touchdowns. Along with Gurley’s deal, this is another sign that the market for top running backs is increasing greatly, and an every down back is beginning to be valued like a receiver in terms of salary.

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