Andre Johnson’s contract will outlast us all.
John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports that Johnson’s new deal will be a two-year extension worth $38.5 million through 2016. Based on the league’s rotating schedule and other calculations, PFT can estimate that the final game of Johnson’s deal will take place against the London Towers in Week Eighteen, January 2017.
The new deal adds $13 million guaranteed in new money. The total contract is worth $73.5 million over ten years.
Since we don’t know the exact structure of the contract, it’s not worth speculating whether it truly makes Johnson the highest paid receiver in the league. We do know that Johnson likely received more upfront guaranteed money, which had Johnson smiling wide on Thursday.
“Words can’t describe it,” Johnson said. “To be able to play for the Houston Texans for the rest of my career is a tremendous honor.”
Johnson shouldn’t be the only one smiling. Other elite NFL players (and their agents) can use A.J. as an example of a player that got paid big extra bucks despite having many years left on his existing deal.