Who is the Lions most overpaid player? Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox selected tight end Jesse James but we at Lions Wire have a different player in mind.
“New Detroit Lions tight end Jesse James will only carry a cap hit of $2.3 million in 2019,” Knox said. “That’s not bad. However, his overall deal of $22.6 million over four years is far bigger than what James deserves.”
Knox goes on to note that with the addition of T.J. Hockenson the Lions will be paying “its backup tight end more than $5 million per season over the next four years.”
The jury is definitely still out on if James can live up to his deal, but with the Lions expected to increase their use of 12 personnel (1 running back and 2 tight end formations) referring to James as a back-up may be a bit premature — especially based on what we have seen from the Lions in OTAs and minicamp.
The expectations will be high for James though as his contract slots him in as the 17th highest paid tight end in the league based on his average salary of $5,650,000 per year according to Over The Cap.
While there is an argument to be made for James being the most overpaid player on the roster, we have yet to see how he is used in Detroit. However, there is another player that we have seen how the Lions use him and based on his current salary he would be our choice as the most overpaid Lion — Theo Riddick.
Unlike James, Riddick is a clear backup at his position, behind Kerryon Johnson (and possibly C.J. Anderson) and while he has a defined role on offense, he offers little beyond that.
Let’s be clear, Riddick is a good football player and one deserving of a spot on the 53-man roster but his salary and role don’t line up.
Riddick’s $4,625,000 salary cap hit in 2019 currently slots in as the ninth highest on the Lions roster and his yearly average of $3,850,000 is currently the 18th highest among all running backs in the NFL according to Over The Cap.
With an inflated contract, Johnson and (likely) Anderson ahead of him on the depth chart, young players at the position challenging for time — most notably from Zach Zenner and Ty Johnson — and zero value on special teams, Riddick may need to have a terrific training camp and preseason if he is going to keep his spot on the roster.
Riddick has the talent to stick, but he is also one of the most vulnerable veteran players on the team.
