With Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson set to earn nearly $16 million in base salary next year, there is a possibility that Johnson could be playing his last game for the Lions this Sunday when they face the Chicago Bears. Johnson was the second overall pick of the 2007 National Football League Draft by the Lions and he rapidly became a household name for his pass catching ability. Johnson who has been dubbed as “Megatron” is a six-time Pro Bowler along with being the Lions all-time leader in receptions (721), receiving yards (11,482), and receiving touchdowns (82). In 2012, Johnson set a single-season record in the National Football League with 122 receptions for 1,964 receiving yards. But Johnson will be 31-years of age next September and he’s had previous knee issues. And regardless of how productive that a player is, it is not guaranteed that a team is willing to give that much money to a player who is a non-quarterback. It’s not set in stone that the Lions and Johnson would have a divorce as both parties could agree to him restructuring his contract. But if Johnson winds up leaving Motown with an eye on joining a contender, there are some potential landing spots for him.
New England Patriots
With head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady leading the way, the New England Patriots are always in contention. Right now the Patriots are out to repeat as Super Bowl Champions as they don’t believe in resting on their laurels. The Patriots have dealt with injuries at the wide receiver position this year, and in 2016, Johnson could provide them with more depth.
Like any player that would join the Patriots, Johnson would have to check his ego at the door which would mean that he wouldn’t be the main recipient of Brady’s passes. But what Johnson could give the Pats is another big receiver in the red zone that would take some pressure off of tight end Rob Gronkowski. And if Johnson were to join the Patriots, he would be taking a pay cut as this is an organization that doesn’t believe in over spending, but he would be a part of a winner.
Baltimore Ravens
Like the Patriots, the Baltimore Ravens are also a perennial playoff contender. The Ravens have fallen on hard times this year as the injury bug has really hit them with quarterback Joe Flacco, wide receiver Steve Smith, and outside linebacker Terrell Suggs all being placed on injured reserve. The Ravens will miss the playoffs for only the second time since 2008, and they will be itching to get back among the National Football League’s elite teams in 2016.
You can expect Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome to be a busy man in the off-season as he attempts to revamp this roster. The Ravens will be picking earlier than usual in the National Football League Draft while they expect to have Flacco back under center and healthy next year. But as the Ravens have developed into more of an offensive team, wouldn’t it be nice for Newsome to give Flacco a wide receiver like Johnson that strikes fear into an opponent?
New York Giants
There’s still a ton of things that need to be sorted out with the New York Giants as they head into 2016. We don’t know if Tom Coughlin will be back the Giants head coach, or whether or not if Jerry Reese will be welcomed back as the team’s general manager. But what we do know is that the Giants will enter 2016 coming off of three consecutive losing seasons as this is an organization that wants to get back to respectability.
Giants quarterback Eli Manning still has plenty in the tank while wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., is a big-time play making threat. But as good as Beckham Jr. has been, the Giants have lacked a solid complimentary wide receiver too him. The last two seasons have seen Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz sidelined with knee and calf injuries, and New York needs someone who can not only take some pressure off of Beckham Jr., but who can also given Manning a big target in the red zone like he had earlier in his career with wide receiver Plaxico Burress and tight end Jeremy Shockey.
If Johnson becomes available, he would be ideal for the Giants as this an organization that needs to make a splash this off-season.
Dallas Cowboys
Right about now, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones appears to be a frustrated and desperate man. In 2014, Jones felt that he had a team that could win the Super Bowl only to see Dallas lose to the Green Bay Packers on a controversial call in the playoffs. This year Jones allowed running back wide receiver DeMarco Murray to leave as a free agent and he would go on to join the Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys will finish this year last in the NFC East as the injury bug has hit them bad.
Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo isn’t getting any younger as he is 35-years of age with multiple collarbone injuries. Jones has failed to develop a quarterback behind Romo which could make 2016 a make or break season for the Cowboys. Dallas still has wide receiver Dez Bryant and tight end Jason Witten as this combination has been tough on opposing defenses. But the addition of Johnson could make them unstoppable.
Jones is the George Steinbrenner of the National Football League and he is never afraid to make a splash as he knows that you needs star players to win in this league which could make Johnson an ideal fit in Dallas.
Green Bay Packers
This era of Green Bay Packers football has been personified by quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers is a two-time National Football League MVP along with being a Super Bowl MVP. But lately the Packers organization has been relying too much on Rodgers and their system to win games which always doesn’t cut it.
The Packers lost wide receiver Jordy Nelson is the preseason to a torn ACL and Rodgers has been unable to get in sync with the other receivers in Green Bay consistently. Rodgers wants to win another Super Bowl Championship and he has enough pull within the Packers organization that the team could make a push to potentially sign Johnson which would be a huge coup for Green Bay.
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are in a good position to win their first Super Bowl Championship this February, but why stop there? The Panthers won their first 14 games this year in spite of the fact that quarterback Cam Newton lost his top wide receiver (Kelvin Benjamin) in the preseason to a torn ACL.
The Panthers have been going about things with their solid running game, a stingy defense, and Newton having an MVP-type season throwing the football. And if Johnson wants to be a part of a winner, would a phone call from the 704 area code intrigue him?
Source: Overthecap.com
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