Devonta Freeman just earned himself a fat contract extension from that Atlanta Falcons to the tune of five years and $41.25 million. In terms of salary per year, Freeman is now tops in the entire NFL with around an $8.25-million annual payout.
But if you cross-reference salaries with current NBA players, Freeman would merely be at the middle of the pack. In fact, he's making essentially the same as Sacramento Kings backup center and career journeyman Kosta Koufos.
Devonta Freeman just became the highest paid RB in the NFL. His annual compensation is basically the same as Kosta Koufus.
— Spence Checketts (@spencechecketts) August 9, 2017
Last year Koufos signed a four-year, $33 million contract with the Kings and although both players make the same annual amount, all of Koufos' contract is guaranteed, while Freeman's isn't.
Freeman is coming off two straight Pro Bowl seasons with the Falcons after putting together two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in the league. Koufos has only averaged over 20 minutes per game in one of his nine seasons in the league, averaging 6.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in his last season in Sacramento.
This has become commonplace in the NBA. Exorbitant salaries have run rampant with the increasing cap and last offseason, in particular, teams grossly overpaid for mediocre talent.
Unfortunately for Freeman, it looks like he picked the wrong sport.