Another day, another dollar. Well, unless you are New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson in which case it’s more like, another day, another $12 million. The Saints and their latest undrafted success story reached a two-year deal intended to keep the converted wide receiver in New Orleans through 2024.
Johnson was a restricted free agent this offseason, so the Saints had the upper-hand in keeping Johnson around. But instead of leveraging one of three RFA tenders they could have placed on him to assure his roster spot for 2023, the team chose to show the big pass-catching target that they value him with a two-year deal. We now have an early look at the contract’s structure as reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The Saints three tender choices could have paid Johnson up to $6,005,000. Instead, he gets a 2-year, $12 million agreement with a maximum value of $14.5 million based on contract escalators. He also gets $8.5 million guaranteed over the life of the deal.
Re-signing Johnson has long been considered an offseason must for the Saints. And much like they have shown a penchant to do over the last couple of seasons, they got it done without much fuss. The organization is sure to be excited to have their big-bodied pass-catcher back for the foreseeable future.
Johnson reeled in 42 catches, 508 receiving yards and 7 touchdown catches. As he has continued to develop after transitioning to tight end just a season ago, he’s sure to take another step forward in 2023 and new starting quarterback Derek Carr knows it. “The athleticism that he has a tight end,” Carr said of Johnson while discussing the Saints offensive weapons. “And the way he can move. There’s just so much potential (on the offense).”
