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Maurice Jones-Drew has agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Jacksonville Jaguars. According to ESPN.com insider John Clayton, the former second-round pick will become one of the three highest paid running backs in football.

Per Clayton, the deal is worth more than $8.2 million a year. One of Jones-Drew's representative, Rob London, is confirming the length of the deal.

(UPDATE -- 3 Jul, 2009: To clarify, London's confirmation as posted on his Twitter account on April 15 was just length of deal. Note that London did not confirm Clayton's dollar figures.)

The extension, which will pay Jones-Drew more than $32 million, will be announced at a news conference Wednesday afternoon in Jacksonville.

According to Clayton, the contract is believed to top the six-year, $49.1 million deal signed by Clinton Portis of the Redskins in 2006. Steven Jackson of the Rams is the highest paid running back. He signed a five-year, 48.5 million deal last season. Larry Johnson of the Chiefs is next. He has five-year, $43.14 million contract.

Jones-Drew was entering the final year of his contract and was scheduled to make $535,000.

The 5-7, 208-pounder led the team with 824 yards rushing last year and ranked second with 62 receptions for 565 yards. He scored 14 touchdowns. He is expected to do even more in 2009 since the Jaguars released Fred Taylor, the franchise's career rushing leader, in February.

The Jaguars have made it clear they believe Jones-Drew is capable of being an every-down back and were willing to make him one of the highest paid at that position.

Indeed, the 23-year old has demonstrated a clear-cut ability to put up starter-type numbers as a backup and he figures to surpass them as a starter.

His 6,003 total yards the last three years, including return yards, represent the best total in the league over that span (Brian Westbrook of Philadelphia is second at 5,751). Jones-Drew also ranks sixth in yards from scrimmage (4,081), third in receiving yards (1,500) and third in touchdowns (40) over the past three years.

Also worth noting, after starting only one game in his career (during his rookie season), Jones-Drew started the last three weeks last season and averaged over 106 yards from scrimmage in those games.

So even though head coach Jack Del Rio recently suggested that fullback Greg Jones will likely get five to 10 carries a game -- Montell Owens and Chauncey Washington are other possible contributors -- Jones-Drew will carry the load as both a running back and a receiver going forward.

And that's going to make him a very popular man on Fantasy draft days this year.