Dez Bryant’s average annual cash value is at 58th best in the NFL among wide receivers

Among the NFL’s top receivers in the past five or so years have been Calvin Johnson, AJ Green, and Dez Bryant. It is understandable that Calvin, also known as Megatron, is the highest paid receiver in the NFL as he continually puts up monster numbers for the Detroit Lions franchise year in and year out.

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Dez Bryant, who has hauled in 293 receptions, 4,104 yards, and 40 touchdowns in his four year career for the Dallas Cowboys, is not being paid anywhere near the level of Megatron although his play has indicated he deserves much more.

Earlier today the NFL on ESPN twitter released the average annual cash value of 2014 wide receiver contracts, and the numbers may surprise you:

Jerricho Cotchery is being paid slightly more on average than Dez Bryant right now. Considering that Cotchery has less touchdowns, 30, in his ten year career than Dez Bryant, there is obviously an issue at hand.

Not only is Cotchery being paid more than Bryant, apparently 57 wide receivers are being paid more on average than Dez. You would be hard pressed to find 10 receivers more productive than Dez Bryant, let alone 57.

Bryant is set to be paid $1.78 million this season in the final year of his rookie contract. With the season only nine days away the contract discussions with the Cowboys are kicking into high gear with lucrative numbers for Bryant.

Simply put, Bryant more than deserves a contract extension, and the Cowboys should give him one prior to the start of this season. If they do, it will only motivate Bryant even more to put up huge numbers for the Cowboys.