Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson is coming off of an injury, but that did not stop him from getting paid ahead of Sunday's season opener. The Cardinals announced that they have given Johnson a three-year contract extension worth $39 million. The running back signed the deal on Saturday night, which is a contract that could be worth up to $45 million.
The contract also features $30 million in guaranteed money, which ranks third among current deals for NFL running backs. Despite coming off a season-ending injury a season ago, Johnson let it be known in June that he wanted a new deal. He did still report to minicamp, but consistently brought it up during interviews throughout the summer.
He was entering the fourth and final year of his rookie contract, which was worth $2.9 million, but he was only going to make $1.9 million this season.
The 26-year-old has been dealing with injuries over the past couple of seasons, including missing 15 games last year after suffering a fractured wrist in Week 1. He also suffered a sprained MCL in Week 17 of the 2016 season, this after putting up an impressive season that year. Johnson was an All-Pro and Pro Bowler for the first time that year, running for 1,239 yards and 16 touchdowns on 293 carries before going down with injury to end the year.
The tailback was a third-round pick out of the University of Northern Iowa in the 2015 NFL Draft. Since that time, he has 32 touchdowns from scrimmage, which ranks behind Todd Gurley and Devonte Freeman, who each have 35 in that time. He is now under contract through the 2021 season with the Cardinals, who will open up their season at home on Sunday against the Washington Redskins.
The contract also features $30 million in guaranteed money, which ranks third among current deals for NFL running backs. Despite coming off a season-ending injury a season ago, Johnson let it be known in June that he wanted a new deal. He did still report to minicamp, but consistently brought it up during interviews throughout the summer.
He was entering the fourth and final year of his rookie contract, which was worth $2.9 million, but he was only going to make $1.9 million this season.
The 26-year-old has been dealing with injuries over the past couple of seasons, including missing 15 games last year after suffering a fractured wrist in Week 1. He also suffered a sprained MCL in Week 17 of the 2016 season, this after putting up an impressive season that year. Johnson was an All-Pro and Pro Bowler for the first time that year, running for 1,239 yards and 16 touchdowns on 293 carries before going down with injury to end the year.
The tailback was a third-round pick out of the University of Northern Iowa in the 2015 NFL Draft. Since that time, he has 32 touchdowns from scrimmage, which ranks behind Todd Gurley and Devonte Freeman, who each have 35 in that time. He is now under contract through the 2021 season with the Cardinals, who will open up their season at home on Sunday against the Washington Redskins.
