Chris Johnson vs. DeSean Jackson: Which Holdout Warrants the Biggest Investment?

Instead of planning to join their teams for training camp, both Chris Johnson and DeSean Jackson took to Twitter to confirm their lockouts.

Both the Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans have quite the situation on their hands, as their star players have made it clear that they won't report for duty unless they have a flashy new contract to secure their futures. Holdouts are never fun, and with the rushed offseason, it puts more pressure on both teams to get deals done in a hurry.

With the current market, getting a long-term deal done won't be easy, but when it's all said and done, both players will become very wealthy men. Now the question is, which one should get the higher paycheck?

Inside, we examine the impact both players have on their teams and make a decision on who should get the most money in their new deal.

If you have any thoughts, make sure to leave them in the comments below.

Offensive Role

For the Eagles, DeSean Jackson is more than just a wide receiver.

Jackson is a wideout, a kick-returner, running back and decoy for the potent Philadelphia offense, which took the NFC by storm last season. It is hard to find a more versatile player than Jackson, who has emerged into one of Michael Vick's favorite targets in the passing game.

The Eagles have a lot of depth, but Jackson is by far the most vital cog in the offense.

As far as Chris Johnson is concerned, vital cog would be underselling his role in the Tennessee attack.

Johnson is the featured running back and primary weapon when the Titans take the field. It might not always be pretty, but Tennessee has opted to club defenses over the head with the running game in the hopes that their elusive runner will find a lane and the end zone.

While Jackson is by far the more versatile performer, if Johnson were to hold out the entire season, it would cripple what's left of the Tennessee offense.

Edge: Chris Johnson

Game-Changing Ability

Ask the New York Giants how dangerous DeSean Jackson is.

One of Philadelphia's chief rivals found out just how dangerous Jackson was when they kicked to him as time expired in what should have been a Giants victory. The speedy receiver picked the ball up and took it all the way to the end zone, giving the Eagles the win and crushing New York's playoff hopes.

These are the types of plays Jackson can make on a weekly basis, giving Andy Reid the type of player that can score from anywhere on the field.

Chris Johnson has that ability as well, but he doesn't shorten the field for you on kicks, and he hasn't shown the ability to be a dangerous threat out of the backfield. Few players have his speed and ability to elude defenders, but there is no denying that he can only impact the game in a certain way.

Jackson can beat you at any stage of the game from any part of the field, and that makes him a defense's worst nightmare.

Edge: DeSean Jackson

Consistency

You would be hard pressed to find two more consistent performers in the NFL than DeSean Jackson and Chris Johnson.

In each of his first three seasons, Johnson has rushed for at least 1,200 yards and has at least nine touchdowns in all three, having no less than 11 in the last two. The East Carolina standout has turned into one of the league's best backs and most dangerous playmakers.

Everyone knows about Johnson's 2,000 yard season, but what most don't know is that the running back has a lower yards-per-carry average in 2011 despite having less carries. He also scored three less touchdowns.

Jackson is also a dangerous playmaker, but he went from 62 grabs in his first two seasons to 47 in 2010. The drop in catches hurt his touchdown numbers, which went down from nine to six as Michael Vick spread the ball around. Despite this drop, Jackson still got open downfield, raising his yards-per-catch to 22.5 yards.

Both players regressed in certain aspects last season, but it's hard to label one more inconsistent than the other.

Edge: Draw 

Overall Value

DeSean Jackson is one of the most dangerous deep threats in all of football, but the reality is that he can be replaced by the Philadelphia Eagles.

As we saw last season, Philadelphia was was able to slide Jeremy Maclin into his spot and succeed without him in the lineup. There is no doubt that this fact is in the back of their mind as they approach these negotiations with Jackson.

For Tennessee, there is no replacing Chris Johnson. 

Running backs are a rare commodity in the NFL, and without their speedy playmaker, the Titans might as well prepare for a top-three draft pick. Johnson is the heart and soul of the offense, and when you get a top running back, you do whatever it takes to make sure you can lock him up long term.

They may have shorter lifespans, but you have to maximize your opportunities with a star running back, and Johnson is heading into his fourth season. It is time for him to get his money, especially after making concessions during his hold out, under the assumption that there would be serious talks about a long-term extension.

Every team in football would love to have Jackson, but the truth is that you can find another deep threat. It is almost impossible to replace a top running back.

Edge: Chris Johnson

Conclusion

In the end, Chris Johnson is more valuable to a franchise and deserves more money in a new deal.

Johnson has done what it takes to earn a deal, especially when you consider what he's making on his rookie deal. The star running back has been quiet and is willing to negotiate. The team has made it clear they would talk to him, and the time has come to get to the table and work a deal out.

Jackson also deserves more money, but with the depth and versatility of the Philadelphia offense, they can cover up his absence. This holdout has the potential to be truly disruptive, and Andy Reid is going to have his work cut out for him.

Both men will be no shows for a good part of training camp, but when they arrive to meet their teams, Johnson will have the bigger paycheck.