Report: Lions OC Johnson wants $15M per season for HC job

Any NFL team wanting to land Ben Johnson as its head coach this offseason should be prepared to open its checkbook.

Some owners have been told that the Detroit Lions' sought-after offensive coordinator has an asking price of around $15 million, a source told Josina Anderson of CBS Sports.

Johnson is widely expected to be the most in-demand candidate for the 2024 hiring cycle after turning the Lions into a serious contender in the NFC.

The 37-year-old was targeted by the Houston Texans and Carolina Panthers last offseason but withdrew his candidacy in favor of returning to Detroit.

The Lions have been one of the NFL's best offenses since promoting Johnson to coordinator after stints in various position roles.

They rank third in total yards per game (394.4) and fifth in scoring offense per game (27.3 points) this season, and finished fourth and fifth in those respective categories in 2022.

The upcoming hiring cycle is expected to be a highly competitive one. Adam Schefter of ESPN said in late November on "The Pat McAfee Show" that he expects "seven to 10" head coach vacancies in 2024.

The Carolina Panthers, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers already have openings after firing Frank Reich, Josh McDaniels, and Brandon Staley, respectively, during the season.