D Brickashaw Ferguson Case Study

Smart, Athletic, and Worth Over $10 Million

Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighing over 300 pounds, D 'Brickashaw Ferguson is an imposing sight. At first glance, you might not consider that he makes his money off of speed and agility, but he does. Ferguson can run the 40 yard dash in 5.08 seconds and has a 30 inch vertical jump. That means he can get his 6 foot 6 inch frame nearly 3 feet off the ground. He has a black belt in Shotokan Karate, but tempers his skill with a degree in Biblical studies.

D 'Brickashaw Ferguson plays in the National Football League for the New York Jets. He was a first round draft pick taken 4th overall in 2006; he was picked up by the Jets for whom he has played ever since. Over the last 8 years, Ferguson has been an All-Pro three times,

Once listed as one of the top 100 players in the NFL, and rated in the top ten in his position in many categories, Ferguson 's performance has deteriorated somewhat over the last few seasons. Part of it is his age. Ferguson is now 31 years old which is middle-aged for an NFL lineman. Some have questioned his ability to continue with the Jets given his age, slowing skills and the size of his salary cap value. He was loved by coach Rex Ryan, but Ryan is no longer the coach. Ferguson is still middle of the pack in most skill categories, and better than most in several. One thing is certain, if he wants to stay in New York, this 2015-16 season needs to be one of his best.

Regardless of what the next few years hold for him in the NFL, Ferguson will be just fine. Unlike so many athletes who have lost it all, Ferguson has, so far, used his money wisely and is currently estimated to have a Net Worth of over $10 million. That number could easily double over the next three years of his back-end heavy contract. Even if he doesn 't stay with the Jets, he has another $15-20 million guaranteed over his final 3 contract years.