Lions Finish Deal With C. Johnson

The Detroit Lions have completed a contract agreement with Calvin Johnson, the wide receiver out of Georgia Tech selected with the second overall choice in the NFL draft in April.

The six-year deal contains about $27.5 million in guaranteed money and has a maximum overall value of about $64 million, a source said.

Many talent evaluators around the league regarded Johnson as the most gifted player available in the draft.

Johnson becomes the second top-five selection to agree to a contract in the past two days. The Arizona Cardinals completed a deal Thursday with offensive tackle Levi Brown, the fifth overall pick. Johnson's deal could set the stage for the Oakland Raiders to finish a contract with quarterback JaMarcus Russell, the top overall pick. There have been rumblings around the league that Russell would not sign until after Johnson did, a precaution by Russell's representatives aimed at making certain that Russell would get the better contract.

In all, there are five first-round picks league-wide still unsigned--Russell, New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis (the 14th overall choice), Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn (22nd), Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe (23rd) and Carolina Panthers linebacker Jon Beason (25th).

By Mark Maske |  August 3, 2007; 9:35 AM ET  | Category:  Lions
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Posted by: calvin johnson | August 3, 2007 2:49 PM

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