When New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese signed defensive end Olivier Vernon, one word was commonly found in universal responses: “Overpaid.” It was an admittedly fair evaluation when one considers the way his track record lined up with his new status.
During his first year with the Giants, however, Vernon briefly justified the contract that Reese controversially signed him to.
When Vernon signed a five-year deal worth $85 million, an instant comparison was made to a player he’s paid more than: J.J. Watt. A part of that was ignorance to the manner in which payment in the NFL works, as players like Watt often set the market.