Adam Schefter discusses why Ben Johnson’s claims $15 million pay demand is achievable

admin | December 28, 2023 | Other Clubs | No Comments

According to CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is seeking a salary of $15 million per year for any team interested in hiring him as its next head coach.

While some have questioned whether Johnson legitimately requested such a high salary, ESPN’s Adam Schefter suggested on “The Pat McAfee Show” recently that it might not be far off from what a team like the Carolina Panthers would consider paying to land an up-and-coming head-coaching candidate like Johnson.

“Last year, DeMeco Ryans got $8 million a year over six years, and he parlayed the fact that Houston had been through so many coaches into a longer-term deal,” Schefter said. “And the coaches contracts are all guaranteed, so DeMeco got six years out of Houston guaranteed at a higher rate. To me, Ben Johnson — if he wants the Carolina job — is in position to do something similar, and the DeMeco deal becomes the starting point, but (Johnson’s) deal comes in even higher this year.”

Johnson interviewed for the Panthers’ head coaching job last offseason before declining all coaching opportunities to stay with the Lions.

Carolina’s rumored interest in Johnson derives from the team’s desire for a mentor for No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, 22, who has struggled in his rookie season under former head coach Frank Reich, who was dismissed 11 games into the season, and interim HC Chris Tabor.

Young has a passer rating of 75 and has completed 59.7% of his throws for 2,671 yards, 11 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. As Carolina’s starting quarterback, he has a 2-12 record and ranks 20th in passing yards, 24th in touchdowns, and 27th in completion percentage and passer rating.

Jared Goff has resurrected his career under Johnson’s instruction, throwing for 8,422 yards, 56 touchdowns, 17 interceptions, and a passer rating of 98.8 with a 20-12 record over the last two years. This season, Goff sits third in passing yards and touchdowns and fifth in passer rating.

The Lions offense, on the other hand, is third in overall offense and fifth in both passing and scoring offense, while Carolina ranks 30th, 30th, and 29th in the same categories.

“If you’re a guy like Ben Johnson in Detroit, and the Panthers are desperate for you, you’ve already said no once and they want to bring you in to work with Bryce Young (it’s a good situation to be in),” Schefter continued. “…He said no (last year), he could say no again, so that’s where David Tepper comes in and says, ‘OK, are you ready to say no to six years and $10 million a year?’ I’m making (these numbers) up off the top of my head.”