NFL: Worst Free-Agent Contracts of 2016
By John Laird
6. WR Marvin Jones, Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions came to an agreement with former Bengals wide-out Marvin Jones. Detroit inked him to a five year $40 million deal with $20 million of that guaranteed.
The retirement of Calvin Johnson is the only way I can justify them signing this No. 3 wide receiver to this big deal. Detroit got caught pressing. Their best pass catcher of all time retires and they try to sign a ‘big name’ to help fill the massive void “Megatron” left behind.
If you strictly look at Jones’ numbers, they’re pretty good. He was able to haul in 65 balls for 816 total yards while getting into the end zone four times. But, I don’t imagine it’s that hard to put up those numbers when you play behind A.J. Green, Tyler Eifert, Mohamed Sanu, Giovanni Benard, and Jeremy Hill. So, that makes him the sixth option in the offense?
He’s getting paid like a number one receiver, even though he’s been a number three pass threat at best during his career. And in Detroit, the only person who can take attention away from him is fellow pass catcher Golden Tate.
The Lions are asking Marvin Jones to go from a third receiver to the second option isn’t impossible, but the money they are giving him can’t be explained with any kind of logic. $20 million dollars guaranteed to a guy who was never asked to do anything but beat single coverage while the rest of his offense are the main focal points just boggles my mind.
With no true number one targets, it seems like the Lions are asking quarterback Matt Stafford to back pack the entire offense.
Next: Number 5