Former Oklahoma Sooner rewarded after Super Bowl season with massive payday that makes his contract one of the richest at his position
Lane Johnson has been arguably the best offensive tackle in the NFL for nearly a decade now, manning the right tackle spot for the Philadelphia Eagles since they drafted him fourth overall in the 2013 NFL Draft. For his efforts in being a key part (arguably the most important part) in the Eagles' Super Bowl […]
Lane Johnson has been arguably the best offensive tackle in the NFL for nearly a decade now, manning the right tackle spot for the Philadelphia Eagles since they drafted him fourth overall in the 2013 NFL Draft.
For his efforts in being a key part (arguably the most important part) in the Eagles' Super Bowl run this year, the standout lineman has been rewarded with a lucrative contract extension that gives him some of the most guaranteed money of any offensive lineman.
Johnson earning $40M guaranteed over the next two years makes him the highest-paid offensive lineman in guaranteed money per year, with the next highest being Laremy Tunsil with $16.6M guaranteed per year. That $40M guaranteed ties him for ninth place among all offensive tackles and fourth among all right tackles.
Earning $48M over the next two years brings his APY up to $24M from $20M, making Lane the third-highest-paid right tackle in the league and the sixth-highest-paid offensive tackle overall on a per-year basis.
Johnson had a fascinating journey for the Sooners. A former quarterback and tight end at junior college, Johnson transferred to the Sooners in 2009. There, he bounced from practice squad quarterback to tight end and even played defensive end in 2011. However, by chance, injuries had limited some of Oklahoma's linemen in 2011, forcing then-offensive line coach Bruce Kittle to hold a tryout among the rest of the team.
Johnson wowed Kittle, who immediately moved him over to right tackle. Two games afterwards, Johnson started at right tackle and never gave up the job the rest of the season. In 2012, Johnson replaced Donald Stephenson (drafted third round in 2011) at left tackle and was named a Third-Team All-American.
Depending on who you ask, Johnson has been the best offensive tackle in the league, interchangeable with another former Sooner in Trent Williams (San Francisco 49ers). Between those two Sooners, they have earned over $60M guaranteed on their most recent contracts. Tack on Creed Humphrey's deal, and that shoots up to almost $100M guaranteed between the three.
It pays to be a lineman at Oklahoma.
