Michael Floyd went from one of the most promising wide receivers in the 202 NFL Draft to an expendable receiver that was released in the middle of the 2016 season by the team who drafted him. He moved on to rebound and win a Super Bowl Ring and now he has what could be a big-money one-year deal. After three disappointing seasons, the Minnesota Vikings are hoping that Floyd can turn things around and will pay Floyd up to $4.5 million if he plays up to his promise in the 2017 NFL season.
The downfall of Michael Floyd
Michael Floyd was supposed to be the eventual replacement for Larry Fitzgerald as the top wide receiver with the Arizona Cardinals.
In the 2012 NFL Draft, the Cardinals had high hopes for the Notre Dame wide receiver and drafted him with the 13th pick of the first round.
However, outside of a breakout season in 2013 where he caught 65 passes for 1,041 yards, Michael Floyd has been disappointing. He finished 2014 and 2015 with just over 800 receiving yards and after only catching 33 passes for 446 yards in 13 games in 2016, the Cardinals released Michael after he picked up a DUI.
The DUI was a bad one as well, as Michael Floyd blew a .217 after falling asleep in his vehicle while at a traffic light. The charges were serious enough after the BAC total was revealed that he faced jail time and is NFL career was in jeopardy.
Rebounding with the Patriots
Luckily for Michael Floyd, the New England Patriots were not concerned about his DUI or possible jail time. New England needed a receiver to help them on their Super Bowl run and they only needed him for a couple of months, making signing him a no-risk deal.
Floyd joined the Patriots and played in two regular season games, catching four passes for 42 yards and a touchdown.
Michael Floyd then only played in one playoff game, catching one pass for nine yards. Michael was inactive for the Super Bowl, but he got $1.2 million and a Super Bowl ring for those five receptions with New England.
A second chance in Minnesota
Michael Floyd was nothing more than insurance with the New England Patriots. Now, he could have a chance to revive his career with the Minnesota Vikings.
The good news for Minnesota fans is that the contract is a team-friendly one, meaning Floyd has to perform to get the full pay.
The base salary is $1.16 million and it is not guaranteed. He is also promised a $250,000 per-game roster bonus for remaining on the Minnesota Vikings roster. If the NFL hands down a suspension for his arrest, that will cut into the roster bonus. However, if he performs well, he will get paid the full money.
If Michael Floyd catches 40 passes, gains 500 yards, or scores six receiving touchdowns, he could earn $1.5 million. That is where the Minnesota Vikings are smart as they are paying Floyd if he performs for them. If Michael catches 70 passes, gains 1,000 yards, or scored 12 touchdowns, he will max out at $4.6 million.
