Show Him the Money: Saints' Evans Becomes NFL's Highest-Paid Lineman

Former Division II Bloomsburg University standout lineman Jahri Evans just inked a deal for $56.7 million with the New Orleans Saints. That makes him not only the highest-paid Division II player in the NFL, it makes him the highest-paid interior lineman in NFL history.

Of the huge contract, which spans seven years, $19 million is guaranteed, according to the Associated Press .

Evans, who entered the NFL after being drafted in the fourth round, was an All-Pro last season. He was also a restricted free agent following last season, and New Orleans apparently thought he was too valuable to let go.

Evans was originally a top Division I prospect in high school, but he injured himself playing basketball with some friends, and missed his entire senior season at Frankford (PA) High School. Evans instead wound up with only a partial scholarship at Bloomsburg in Penn.

The size and length of Evans contract may serve as a boon to current and future Division II players. NFL teams are beginning to learn that the top talent in college football doesn't always rise to the top of the divisions.

Over the past several seasons, more and more Division I-FBS, and Division II players have been drafted, or signed as undrafted free agents. Increasingly, top D-I-FBS and D-II schools have been hosting the own "Pro Days," with several NFL teams in attendance.

In a quote to the AP, Saints' head coach Sean Payton said, "It's important to recognize, with what we do offensively, and the quarterback stepping up in the pocket, to have that size and talent inside the pocket is huge for Drew Brees, and I think Drew would say the same thing."

Payton went on to illustrate that he believed Evans' deal was well-earned.

"He's played since his rookie season at an extremely high level and [with] what we've been able to accomplish as a team offensively, his impact inside of the pocket, what he does reflects a deal like this."

As Payton and the Saints have discovered, there's more to college football talent than the big names in Division I—and the beneficiaries of that discovery may very well be spending their summers in places like Bloomsburg, Grand Valley, Northwest Missouri, or North Alabama.