It was reported last week by CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson that Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is asking for a salary of $15 million per year for any team that wants him to be its next head coach.
While some have disputed whether or not Johnson legitimately asked for a salary that high, ESPN’s Adam Schefter suggested during a recent appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” that it might not be far off from what a team like the Carolina Panthers would actually 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 withdrawing himself from any coaching vacancies to remain with the Lions.
Carolina’s reported interest in Johnson stems from the team wanting a mentor for 22-year-old No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young, who has struggled during his rookie year under former head coach Frank Reich, who was fired 11 games into the season, and interim HC Chris Tabor.
Young has completed 59.7% of his passes for 2,671 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions with a passer rating of 75. He has a 2-12 record as Carolina’s starting QB, and he ranks 20th in passing yards, 24th in touchdowns and 27th in completion percentage and passer rating.
Under Johnson’s tutelage, Jared Goff has revived his career, 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. Goff ranks third in passing yards and touchdowns, and fifth in passer rating this season.
Conversely, the Lions offense ranks third in total offense and fifth in both passing and scoring offense, while Carolina ranks 30th, 30th and 29th, respectively, 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.”