A lot of money is going around the NFL right now, with a salary cap of $224.8 million. However, each team's top salaries would surprise you.
Salaries are a funny thing in the NFL. Agents put out the press release showcasing the top number. However, those numbers are never what they seem. Lamar Jackson just signed a contract that pays him an average of $50 million per year. Guess how much he's making this season outside of true signing bonuses. $22.15 million.
Looking at each team's top salary cap hit, the numbers will blow minds. While we see salaries in the NBA ballooning to $50-60 million per season, there is no player in the NFL with a salary cap hit over $40 million. All these deals have a crazy amount of money on the backend, and teams will always push the money down the road to gain cap space today.
The other revelation in this piece is most teams' highest-earning player isn't the quarterback. Eight teams have their highest-paid player under center. Others are paying pass rushers, wide receivers, and offensive linemen more than anyone else. One team is the Los Angeles Chargers, who just signed Justin Herbert to a massive deal that pays him an average of $52 million per season. However, guess what his cap hit is in 2023? It's around $8.5 million.
Come with us on this interesting journey. All contract information came from the smart people at Over the Cap.
Meet the highest-paid player from each NFL team this season:
Arizona Cardinals: Budda Baker — $17.9 million
We start with a huge surprise. Kyler Murray's new contract isn't in effect, yet. That's why he's not the highest-paid player on his team. Somehow, the Cardinals were able to get Murray to sign a contract where the money doesn't start for two years. His deal pays him just over $16 million. So, safety Budda Baker's contract is the top on the Cardinals next season. He actually just negotiated a new deal, adding a few more million to this year's cap hit.
Baker is a very good safety, but he wasn't 100 percent in on the Cardinals until recently. He wanted a trade, and who could blame him? The Cardinals aren't going far, and Baker is in the prime of his career. For now, while he's still here, he is the Cardinals' highest-paid player.
There aren't many safeties that are being paid a premium. Baker is in the same stratosphere as Derwin James and Jamal Adams. His price breaks down as just over $13 million in salary and a little under $4 million in bonus. Murray takes over as the highest-paid player on the Cardinals next year, but for now, Baker is the guy.
Atlanta Falcons: Jake Matthews — $28.358 million
The Atlanta Falcons are one of those teams that it could take a while for fans to guess who is the highest-paid player. A lot of their really exciting players, like Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and A.J. Terrell, are still on their rookie contracts. Their QB isn't one of the premium players in the league, and the team just recently went through a small rebuild, meaning a lot of the star veterans left for other teams. Still, this team has to fill the roster with some expensive players. The man making the most is one of the highest-paid offensive linemen in the league.
Jake Matthews signed a three-year extension last offseason. As you can see, the contract made this year's salary pretty insane. He's getting over $28 million in total compensation this season. For the rest of his contract,
Matthews is incredibly important to the future of the Atlanta Falcons. The offense is in the hands of Desmond Ridder, who needs as much time as possible to succeed. Bijan Robinson needs to get off to a hot start. The offense is very young, and youth needs time to grow. The offensive line, and especially the left tackle, is solely responsible for providing that time.
There's always the veteran who is surrounded by youth, showing them how to be successful NFL players. Matthews still has a huge role in the offense on the field, but he might not see the impacts he really has on the Falcons. The knowledge he instills on this team could have an impact for years.
Baltimore Ravens: Ronnie Stanley — $23.668 million
One of the biggest storylines of the offseason was Lamar Jackson's contract negotiation. There was every rumor on the planet. Some said he was going to hit free agency. They tied him to multiple teams.
Jackson eventually signed a five-year, $260 million contract extension. One would expect Jackson to jump directly into the top of this list. His contract is one of the biggest in NFL history. Once again, those contract numbers almost never actually come to fruition. Jackson's making just over $22 million this season. Offensive lineman Ronnie Stanely is making a little more.
Stanley has had a run of bad luck since he signed his five-year deal during the 2020 season. Just four days after he signed the deal, he went down with an ankle injury. It was so bad, it took most of two seasons to recover fully. He did restructure his contract prior to last season, but it was to convert money into a signing bonus.
In some situations, Stanley might be an outside cut candidate, but it just wouldn't save the Ravens enough money. They'd still owe Stanley more than $17 million of this contract to let him play elsewhere. Next season, the Jackson contract should be the highest on the team. For now, this one is a huge surprise.
Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen — $18.636 million
Josh Allen being the Buffalo Bills' top salary is not surprising. What's surprising is the number. Allen is one of the best players in the league at any position. The fact that he plays quarterback should make him a $40-50 million man like the rest of the position. Don't worry. That's coming. Next season, Allen will make $47 million against the cap. And it goes up from there. This season, he makes $18.6 million.
That's because Allen restructured his contract this offseason. He and Von Miller moved some money around to give the Bills some wiggle room in 2023. Allen was supposed to make $39.8 million this season between salary and bonuses. Now, it's down to under $19 million. That's why these contracts that steal headlines aren't real. They have these massive years that skew the price and make for a good headline. Meanwhile, the team expects the player to do the team a solid once it comes time to pay for said price.
This makes it even more imperative that the Bills go for broke on a Super Bowl push this season. Allen's salary is a gift for now that's ending with quickness. Sure, the salary cap continues to go up, but adding $30 million to one player's salary is going to hurt any team. Maybe Allen restructures the contract. For now, it's championship-or-bust for the Bills in 2023.
Carolina Panthers: Brian Burns — $16 million
The Carolina Panthers are in a very similar position as most of their NFC South counterparts. The entire division is full of young superstar talent. This includes the quarterback position. Outside of Derek Carr in New Orleans, Kyle Trask (or we guess Baker Mayfield), Bryce Young, and Desmond Ridder are the starters. Those players aren't going to break the bank just yet.
That leaves us looking for big contracts at other positions. Brian Burns is one of the best pass rushers in the league, and this entire offseason we've heard rumors about Burns wanting to play for another franchise. Something was worked out, and he's coming back this season.
This is the final year of his deal, and it is fully guaranteed. At 25 years old and already this good, Burns might be the top free agent in the 2024 class. Usually, players of this caliber never make it to free agency. The franchise tag hurts the player, and Burns might be facing that next offseason. Of course, it is interesting that he showed up to camp. Maybe there's a deal in place he can avoid the tag.
Either way, this is likely Burns' last year in Carolina. However, it won't be the last time he's on this list. He might sign what amounts to a ridiculous contract for a pass rusher.
Chicago Bears: DJ Moore — $20.165 million
This is another contract signed with the Carolina Panthers, but now this deal is on the Chicago Bears' books. They allowed the Panthers to move up to draft Bryce Young for a package that was centered around DJ Moore and draft picks. Justin Fields was desperate for weapons. The Bears got them a very underrated wide receiver in Moore.
Moore was held down by a quadrant of terrible quarterbacks last season. Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, P.J. Walker, and Jacob Eason threw passes for the Panthers last season. With that much turmoil under center, it's no wonder Moore had his worst season since his rookie year. He finished last year with just 888 yards. He did score seven touchdowns, which was weirdly a career-high.
Now that Moore is in Chicago, he can become a true number-one option. The Bears are happy to pay Moore north of $20 million. They need to see what they have in Justin Fields. It was imperative to get him quality weapons. The price does not matter.
Moore is working on a three-year deal that sees his salary drop to $16 million next season and in 2025. The one thing going against Moore is this is the only guaranteed year on his deal. Next season, the Bears could cut him pretty cleanly, and the third year is basically sending the ball in the Bears' court. Nobody should expect that to happen because the Bears did spend a premium asset to get him, but anything is possible.
Cincinnati Bengals: DJ Reader — $15.521 million
Joe Burrow is fourth on this team in 2023 salary. That's going to change very soon. After Justin Herbert's record-setting contract, the expectation is Burrow's next deal will set the market once again. However, for now, Burrow's $11+ million deal does not come close to the top of the Bengals payroll. That leave DJ Reader and his $15+ million deal at the top of the Bengals payroll.
The Bengals have been famously a cheap franchise, known for nickel and diming star players. That has changed in recent years, but seeing the highest-paid player less than $16 million does tell an interesting story.
Reader is in the final year of his contract with the Bengals. He is set to become a free agent at the end of this season, and the defensive tackle will be one of the top names on the list of free agents. His advanced age (he will be post-30 at the time of his next deal) might scare some away, but Reader might get even more money in his next deal.
With a new Joe Burrow contract coming, the luxuries of DJ Reader are likely over in Ohio. He will find a new home, but for now, he's making a pretty penny to stop running backs in orange and black.
Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett — $29.176 million
The Cleveland Browns famously gave Deshaun Watson a contract that set the market, causing stress for many GMs and owners around the league. He was given a fully-guaranteed five-year deal worth $230 million. However, his cap number this year is insanely just over $19 million. The Browns worked that out by making the next three years come with a $63 million cap hit. Next year, the Browns are in trouble, as Over the Cap has them at $59 million over the salary cap for 2024.
As far as 2023 goes, they're in pretty good shape. Myles Garrett is their highest-paid player, as he should be. The pass rusher is one of the best in the game at a premium position. The 27-year-old is coming off back-to-back 16-sack seasons. It does not matter who he shares a line with, who double-teams him, or how offenses scheme to stop him. He is always in the quarterback's face.
This is honestly one of the best contracts in the league for a defensive player. There's really no downside for Garrett, who is protected throughout the deal with multiple bonuses. He also gets a raise next year, and unless he decides he wants to make less money, it's a contract that will be a problem for the Browns.
Last season, Garrett made it into the top five for Defensive Player of the Year voting. Nobody is going to complain about what he's making. However, the Browns did themselves no favors by making the peak of his contract interact with the start of Watson's raise (which comes next year).
Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott — $26.832 million
The salary-grabbing headline recently is that of superstar cornerback Trevon Diggs. However, that deal doesn't start until next season. Also, it's not as great as it looks (just $11 million guaranteed next season and none after that). Dak Prescott, on the other hand, is set to make close to $27 million this season. His salary is just $1.7 million, but he's getting a series of bonuses that amount to $25 million.
Prescott is facing an interesting season in 2023. He has a new offensive coordinator after the Cowboys let Kellen Moore go to the Los Angeles Chargers. Now, he's trying to learn a new offense run by Brian Schottenheimer. He's a really good offensive coordinator, but it always takes a quarterback time to learn a new offensive system.
Prescott, along with his head coach Mike McCarthy, is facing immense pressure to deliver positive results after a career's worth of falling short when it matters. This team hasn't made it past the Divisional Round of the playoffs with Prescott as QB. Eight different franchises have made it to the NFC Championship Game since Prescott joined the league. The Cowboys never have. What makes it worse is the Eagles made it there twice.
This contract gets insane next season, holding a $59 million cap hit. Either way, we'd expect that to be worked down. If Prescott has another underwhelming season, there might be some hard conversations in Dallas.
Denver Broncos: Russell Wilson — $22 million
Even some of the terrible contracts could surprise fans with how little those players are making in 2023. Russell Wilson signed a $87.6 million contract last offseason after he was traded for a massive package to the Denver Broncos. It's a deal the Broncos regret every day, no matter how many times Wilson says, "Let's Ride."
Wilson might have more eyes on his performance next season than any other player in the league. He has this suffocating contract with the Broncos, and they just hired one of the best coaches in recent memory in Sean Payton. Payton was brought in to "fix" what ails Russell Wilson.
There's no putting lipstick on this pig. Wilson was dreadful in 2022. The Broncos were given an outside chance to beat the Chiefs for the AFC West, but they ended up in last place by a lot. This didn't happen in spite of Wilson. The former Seahawks' great was terrible. He finished the season with 16 touchdowns, a career low, and 11 interceptions, his second-worst total.
Wilson was once an MVP candidate, but now he's a straight-up liability. His contract is an anchor to the Broncos unless he can turn it around quickly. For those curious, the Broncos could cut him next year and pay out his contract ($35 million). His contract escalates in 2025 to $55 million. Then, it's three more years of $50+ million. Wilson is sneaky old at 35 years old, so asking for a turnaround sounds like a lot. Could the Broncos cut him post-June 1st in 2024? For now, this anchor is sticking around.
Detroit Lions: Jared Goff — $30.975 million
We finally got a run of quarterbacks, but they aren't exactly superstars. Jared Goff is one of the most interesting contracts in the league this season. The Detroit Lions are unexpectedly keeping Goff through the years of his contract, which would save them a ton of money to cut. The Lions quarterback is going to make north of $30 million, and cutting him now would save them more than $20 million.
However, Goff made himself impossible to cut with his performance last season. This Lions team came from out of nowhere to become the favorites in the NFC North. Sure, that has a lot to do with Aaron Rodgers going to New Jersey and nobody liking the Vikings, but this Lions roster puts them in a position to play whatever quarterback can possibly win them games.
Goff finished last season with more than 4,400 yards, 29 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions. It was the best interception rate of his career (throwing them on just 1.2 percent of his passes).
Can Goff get better than this? Some thought the Lions would look to upgrade the QB position in 2023, but there's no need. Going one more season with Goff makes sense. He has one more season on this current contract, and if he repeats the current performance, he will look for a raise on his $30+ million salary. We'll see if he can do it. If he can, it would be hard to deny him that raise.
Green Bay Packers: David Bakhtiari — $21.336 million
The Green Bay Packers are out of the Aaron Rodgers business and likely couldn't be happier. Like Brett Favre before him, the Rodgers nonsense got old fast. He's now off to play with the New York Jets (deja vu), and the Packers can move forward with Jordan Love. This is a young team with a few stars, including offensive lineman David Bakhtiari.
Despite his star status, how many people could guess he was the Packers' highest-paid player? Many would probably guess Jaire Alexander ($10.75 million), Rashan Gary ($10.89 million), or Preston Smith ($6.37 million). Bakhtiara clears all of them by almost double.
It would be really surprising if the Packers let Bakhtiari go into next season with his current deal. While this number looks hefty, he clears $40 million in cap space next season. An extension for the 32-year-old is pretty likely. That's too large a price to pay for a team like this. Also, the Packers want to keep their quarterback clean. Bakhtiari could use an extension. This feels like a win-win.
Who knows what the future holds for the Packers? They might be sneaky good this season, or the bottom might fall out. Would anyone be surprised if they won the division or ended up in last place? Teams in this type of turmoil usually have a weird player as its highest paid.
Houston Texans: Laremy Tunsil — $26.572 million
The Houston Texans are another team with youth across the depth chart, but just about everyone knows that Laremy Tunsil is their highest-paid player. The Texans traded an insane package to get the superstar left tackle. They were going to spend whatever it took to keep him in the building. Now, Tunsil is the veteran on a team that needs one. He is still playing at a high level, and the Texans have a roster that can make moves.
CJ Stroud isn't the type of QB that is going to light the world on fire without a lot of help. He needs growth before we know exactly what kind of QB he will be. To get that growth, the Texans have to protect him. That's why they haven't traded Tunsil yet. He's still important to what this team's future looks like. Tunsil is still just 29 years old, so he could stick around with this Texans team until they are pretty good.
Tunsil is playing on a new contract, so he might be the team's highest-paid player through the 2026 season. He's doubling down on the Texans just like Houston did the same with him. Sure, that trade looks terrible at this point, but don't forget the top pick in that deal was eventually used to take Trey Lance. The Texans might be in a worse spot if they kept the pick.
The Texans have the money to spend, and Tunsil has the desire to play this role. It's a match made in Heaven, even though it probably felt like hell watching the seasons prior to this one.
Indianapolis Colts: Shaq Leonard — $19.79 million
Yet another young team looking to find the right places to spend its money, the Indianapolis Colts have gained negative headlines for money, especially when it comes to paying Jonathan Taylor. Jim Irsay has been vocal about the current RB impasse, as his star is looking for a new contract. Taylor reportedly asked for a trade, an ask that is apparently going to be ignored.
As for the players who are on the roster, Shaquille Leonard comes in as the highest-paid. A few players are making north of ten million, but Leonard is coming close to a $20 million cap hit. The Colts decided to pay for its non-skill positions. Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr., and Jelani Woods all make less than rookie Anthony Richardson (who only counts $6.18 million against the cap).
Leonard is coming off a tumultuous season that included two back surgeries and just three games played. He's clearly playing with a chip on his shoulder this season. There aren't many linebackers who are the team's highest-paid players. Leonard is looking to break the mold, but he has to have a successful return from injury.
The former Defensive Rookie of the Year and four-time Pro Bowler is still young enough to bounce back. His contract is interesting in the context of the Colts right now, but they will want to make this work. This is not a team looking to rebuild. They hope Richardson could win the division as early as this year.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Cam Robinson — $18.562 million
This one is complicated. Cam Robinson technically has the highest salary on the Jacksonville Jaguars this season, but he isn't actually going to make the $18.562 million that he's slated to make. He was suspended for four games for violating the NFL's PED policy. He will lose $888,000 for each game he misses, and now the guarantees in his contract could be voided.
For now, let's continue as if he's the highest-paid player on the Jaguars. They haven't paid Trevor Lawrence yet, which gives them the luxury of paying other premium positions. The most important of which is the one that protects Lawrence.
That is what's truly unfortunate about the Robinson suspension. With Lawrence finally gaining momentum at the end of last season, he now has to build off that with a different left tackle. Now, the Jaguars are going with Walker Little in Robinson's absence. There are many instances where a player came in after a star made a mistake or got hurt, and they stole the position. Will that happen with Robinson and Little?
There's an outside chance the Jaguars cut Robinson, but it feels like that would have happened already. The Jags could cut him next season and save close to $18 million against the cap. Of course, the Jaguars need to have a replacement at the position.
Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes — $39.69 million
All was can say is… duh. Patrick Mahomes deserves to make more than any player in the league, and that's what is happening in 2023. While due to signing bonuses, other players may technically have more coming to their bank account in 2023, Mahomes has the highest cap hit and therefore the most money accounted for.
Mahomes won his second Super Bowl this past season, and no amount of money is too much for him. While other quarterbacks are signing $50 million per year deals they may never see, Mahomes is steadily going to make between $40 and $50 million for the rest of his career.
Nobody deserves that type of money like Mahomes. He is the most important player at the most important position. He's bringing Super Bowls to the city without as much help as other franchise quarterbacks. Imagine what Mahomes could do with Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd.
One might say Mahomes is criminally underpaid. The Kansas City Chiefs are seeing their worth rise because of Mahomes. When Mahomes joined the NFL in 2017, the Chiefs were worth $2.1 billion. Now, they are worth $3.8 billion. There are multiple factors at play, but Mahomes being on the team absolutely matters.
Las Vegas Raiders: Jimmy Garoppolo — $23.8 million
Jimmy Garoppolo had an interesting offseason. He went into free agency thinking he would be one of the most coveted quarterbacks on the market. There weren't a lot of options under center, and Jimmy G had a history of playing above the Mendoza Line. He ended up signing a big contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. Then, some injury issues came up. Now, his contract is completely different.
The Raiders changed the fabric of Garoppolo's deal due to injury concerns. There is a waiver in Garoppolo's deal that could lead to the Raiders cutting him outright. He signed the deal knowing the stigma that "injured quarterback" carries.
Due to the new clause, Garoppolo actually has the second-highest salary in the NFL. This doesn't include any bonuses, but on pure game check, only Ryan Tannehill makes more than Garoppolo.
In all likelihood, the Raiders and Garoppolo are going to continue their relationship. Unless something happens in the preseason, Jimmy G is getting another starting opportunity. The Raiders' backups consist of Brian Hoyer and Aidan O'Connell. Josh McDaniels could be coaching for his job. He cannot take a chance with anyone besides Garoppolo. That means Jimmy G is getting the big contract.
Los Angeles Chargers: J.C. Jackson — $17 million
If a picture is worth a thousand words, the picture above is worth questioning $17 million. The Los Angeles Chargers just gave Justin Herbert insane money, but his deal doesn't start to hit bonkers levels until 2026. This season, his cap hit is $8.46 million. That leaves J.C. Jackson as the player with the highest cap hit.
Jackson was signed as a free agent in an offseason where the Chargers also added Khalil Mack in a trade with the Bears. The Chargers wanted to make the defense just as strong as the offense, but it never really worked out.
Jackson got hurt before the preseason, and he missed his first regular season game in LA. He returned in Week 2, but he struggled to regain his speed. Eventually, he was benched. Upon his return, he eventually tore his patellar tendon, ending his season.
This is an important year for Jackson. There are no more salary guarantees after this season. So, the Chargers can save major money if he doesn't work out. He's still very young, so a turnaround is likely. However, it needs to happen quickly.
Los Angeles Rams: Aaron Donald — $26 million
The Los Angeles Rams might be one of the most top-heavy rosters in a long time. Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and Aaron Donald are some of the biggest stars at their positions. Eliminating those three players, and the Rams only have five players with a cap hit north of $2 million.
Obviously, that gives the Rams plenty of money to give its stars. That's how Aaron Donald is able to be in this echelon of cap hit. Honestly, the Rams should probably pay him more than the $26 million he's getting. Donald might be the best defensive player since Lawrence Taylor. He's getting to the end of his career (by his own decision). There is some reason Donald returned after the dreadful year that was the 2022 LA Rams.
This roster is likely not a Super Bowl contender, but they can still be sneaky. The Rams making the playoffs could even be considered likely. The stars will be at the top of their games when healthy. Some of these young players will step up.
Donald might be in his last year, but his contract is signed through 2024. He also has some void years built in there, so maybe he finds the passion again and plays more. We expect him to play at least two more seasons, so we should take advantage of seeing one of the very best while we can.
Miami Dolphins: Emmanuel Ogbah — $17.185 million
If you're asking yourself "how is this not Tyreek Hill?" we understand. Hill very famously signed a ridiculous contract when he joined the Miami Dolphins. However, that ridiculous contract was ridiculously backloaded. He's only making $12.8 million this season. It jumps to over $30 million next season. Have you heard this story before? Star contracts in the NFL are all about the headlines and nothing else.
Meanwhile, defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah is the highest cap hit on the Dolphins. Even on the defense, that's a huge surprise. With Jalen Ramsey, Xavien Howard, Christian Wilkins, Terron Armstead, and Bradley Chubb on the defense, it floored us that Ogbah had the highest cap hit. This is a star-studded team, and the man making the most money has to prove he can earn his roster spot.
The Dolphins brought in Vic Fangio to revamp this defense. It could help the Dolphins with this mixture of stars, but it's a defense that Ogbah has to make himself an asset.
Ogbah has no more guaranteed money after this season. He will be a pretty clear-cut candidate if he repeats his 2022 performance. He just wasn't good enough last season, and that needs to change if he wants to keep making his eight-figure salary.
Minnesota Vikings: Kirk Cousins — $20.25 million
Kirk Cousins was the original purveyor of the ridiculous salary for the middling quarterback. Now, Cousins' deal looks like a robbery on the Vikings' end. In a world where the NFL has a clear line between "good quarterbacks" and "losing quarterbacks," Cousins clearly finds himself in the former. That's more than enough to earn a $20 million salary.
Cousins has everything to play for this season. This is the last year of his contract, and he could become a free agent once again. After leaving Washington in 2018, Cousins took advantage of the free agent market and earned himself a fully-guaranteed three-year deal. He eventually signed another guaranteed extension, which runs through this season.
With so much personally on the line, Cousins will step up again this season. He always does when money is at stake. Also, with the Netflix series "Quarterback" getting more people on the Cousins bandwagon, he will have a chip on his shoulder. Expect him to sign another contract that has us shocked.
Will that contract be with the Vikings? They don't really have a proper backup plan. Nobody expects much from Nick Mullens, and fifth-round rookie Jaren Hall out of BYU has a long road before he's ready to start. Cousins might be back in purple on a new long-term deal before we know it.
New England Patriots: Matthew Judon — $18.1 million
This one is getting interesting, as the New England Patriots and Matthew Judon could be headed to a new contract negotiation. Judon was the one true slam dunk during the Patriots' 2021 free agent spending spree. He's been the heart and soul of a Patriots defense that is keeping them in games. He deserves a pay bump, but that never pushed Bill Belichick in the past.
Judon didn't practice in the first two days of training camp, but he is back in full force as he and the Patriots work towards a deal. He probably wants more guaranteed money, as there's just $2 million left in the final two years of his deal total. This number might change, and Judon might also get a longer contract.
For now, Judon is the top guy in terms of cap hit. He's probably the best player on the team, so seeing him make this money is a feel-good story in New England. After years of underpaying stars, Judon is getting the bag.
We'll see how negotiations go. This isn't 2006, or Judon would probably be in Seattle right now. Thankfully for Patriots fans, it's 2023 and Belichick needs Judon.
New Orleans Saints: Cameron Jordan — $15.12 million
The New Orleans Saints have been known to have cap problems and go to extreme lengths to get out of them before the season starts. That's different this season. The Saints are going into this season with eight figures in cap space. They are missing the really high-priced players. Cameron Jordan is their highest-paid player, and he's making just over $15 million.
Jordan is a really good player at a premium position. That goes without saying. The fact he is one of the few players that were on the team when they were at their peak adds to his value. Jordan will play his 200th game with the Saints this season (barring injury). That veteran presence goes a long way in the locker room.
This is going to be Jordan's 13th season with the Saints. It might be his last. His contract ends after this season. Seeing the Saints without Jordan would be weird, but that reality could come to fruition. The two sides are negotiating a deal, so we'll see what happens next.
The Saints are still dealing with a lot of dead money. They have $24 million on the books before they even get through training camp cuts. That has a lot to do with how they spend their money. They did put major dollars behind Derek Carr at quarterback, but his major money doesn't hit until next season.
New York Giants: Leonard Williams — $32.26 million
Leonard Williams is proof second chances can work in the NFL. After spending the first portion of his career fighting bust status with the New York Jets, Williams didn't even have to leave his home stadium when he was traded to the New York Giants. There, he became the defensive lineman he was drafted to be.
Williams' cap hit might look surprising, but that's what happens where there is a $14 million prorated bonus involved. His cap number went insane this season after two modest years in 2021 and 2022. The contract was very smart from the Williams camp. Even with an $18 million savings, the Giants wouldn't cut Williams with $14 million in guaranteed money left.
There is news that the Giants could be looking to extend Williams this offseason. That could help the Giants save money now, or it could keep Williams away from free agency. In a perfect world, it would do both. We don't think he would give up enough money for Daniel Jones and his $21 million cap hit to surpass him, but it could make significant money available.
The Giants were front and center for contract negotiations all offseason. The conversation about the value of running backs centered partially around Saquon Barkley and his inability to sign a new deal. Barkley is such a pivotal part of this offense, but now he's facing another free-agency push. Williams is in the same boat, but a franchise tag is less likely for him. The negotiation process should be a fascinating one.
New York Jets: C.J. Mosley — $21.476 million
Aaron Rodgers joined the New York Jets and immediately renegotiated his contract. We have no idea how to explain it. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk does a good job, but according to him, the contract is good for seven years despite the Jets and Rodgers talking about it like it's a two-year deal. This just shows the absolute wildness that is NFL contracts.
Anyway, the Jets are still paying some of its stars big bucks. They signed C.J. Mosley to an $85 million deal in 2019, and he restructured that deal last offseason. Now, he has two years left at roughly the same cap hit.
Mosley was once considered the beacon of light for this defense. Now, there are three or four other players who can claim their status as the top guy on that side of the ball. Sauce Gardner is probably going to take the mantle this season as Mosley slowly moves down the chart of importance.
This is going to be an important season. Cutting Mosley in 2024 could save the Jets $17 million. The linebacker has to prove he's more valuable on the field than he is in extra cap space when Rodgers' deal gets back to normal QB prices.
Philadelphia Eagles: Lane Johnson — $14.72 million
There is a reason the urgency has been raised so high in the City of Brotherly Love. So many players are on team-friendly deals this season, including Jalen Hurts who is making just over $6 million this season. He has a massive deal coming, but it's a few years away. For now, the highest-paid player on the Philadelphia Eagles is Lane Johnson.
Johnson is making $14.72 million this season. Out of the 32 NFL teams, no other has their highest-paid player making less than Johnson. That's how to build a championship roster. Howie Roseman has done a masterful job putting together this roster without breaking the bank. There are stars at every position, but you wouldn't know that by looking at the bottom line.
If anyone is going to be the highest-paid player on the Eagles, Johnson feels right. He started every game since joining the NFL in 2013. The former fourth-overall pick is a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro.
Johnson is 33 years old. That could mean he has another five years left in the league, or he could peter out within the next year or two. However, he signed a contract extension that pays him through 2026. It added a ton of guarantees into his deal, and so it looks like Johnson thinks he can follow in the footsteps of former Eagles offensive lineman Jason Peters, who played into his 40s.
Pittsburgh Steelers: T.J. Watt — $29.368 million
Yeah, this one makes a lot of sense. The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a sort of transition after the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger. They drafted local standout Kenny Pickett, and they are building around him with phenoms at the skill positions. He literally has so much talent at every skill position, including two great wide receivers, a former top college running back, and a tight end who is destined to make "the leap" this season.
With so much youth on the offensive side, the Steelers can spend their money now on defensive stars. T.J. Watt is the biggest star on this roster, and he deservedly makes the most money. His $29.368 million cap hit is one of the highest in the league for a defensive player, but Watt might be the top player on his side of the ball.
Watt missed major time for the first time in his career last season. After tying the record for most sacks in a season in 2021 (in just 15 games), he had just 5.5 sacks after he was hobbled by a pectoral injury he suffered in Week 1. The Steelers lost six of the seven games he missed and won seven of nine games after he returned.
Even without the stats, Watt has such an impact on this team. The fact he is drawing the entire focus of the blockers opens up opportunities for the rest of the defense. It's simple math. If two or three players are focused on Watt, then there are only so many blockers to cover the other 10 defensive players. This season, we expect Watt at a different level, and this salary might end up being an underpay.
San Francisco 49ers: Trent Williams — $27.227 million
The San Francisco 49ers are a team known to spend money in the right places. Trent Williams is as good a place to spend your money as any. He's constantly named as one of the best left tackles in football despite his advanced age. At 35 years old, any team in the league would still gladly pay him north of $27 million per season.
The 49ers are a Super Bowl contender. They might be the one team in the NFL who are Super Bowl contenders while paying their presumed starting QB under under $1 million. That's right. Purdy's cap hit this season is $889,253. From our count, there are 63 players on this roster who will make more than Purdy this year. Of course, cuts and other transactions will change that since there are only 51 players on a roster, but it tells an insane story.
Williams' holds the job of protecting Purdy. The sophomore is coming off major elbow surgery, and he wants to hold off Trey Lance for the starting job.
Interestingly enough, Williams is playing under the final guarantees in his contract. Starting next season, only his bonuses would cause dead money on the cap. Still, it's hard to conceive a world where the 49ers don't find room for Williams on this roster.
Seattle Seahawks: Jamal Adams — $18.11 million
This might be the only player on the list that has the caveat "unless he gets cut." Jamal Adams has been a failure in Seattle. He was once considered a top defensive star who was undoubtedly the best player at his position. The Jets received a massive package to send Adams to the Seahawks, who then signed him to an extension. Since then, Adams has played 25 games over three seasons.
The Seahawks could save more than $8 million of the $18 million they owe Adams this season. Obviously, they would still be paying more than half of his salary, but it's one easy way to give the Seahawks money if they need it. They do have some cap space to play with during training camp, but if they need to make a big splash or if Adams doesn't live up to expectations in the preseason, he could be out.
On the other hand, Adams is young enough to turn those injuries around and become a star again. He's just 27 years old. This should be the prime of his career, and it feels like more people are giving up on him.
Adams has everything to gain this season, but he also has a lot to lose. He is set to make $23 million next season and $24 million in 2024. However, none of that is guaranteed. If he can't become what he was in that final season with the Jets, his Seahawks career will be cut short. For now, he can enjoy being the top dog in terms of salary on this team.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Evans — $23.698 million
What a strange place the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in. They were Super Bowl contenders at this point last season. Tom Brady returned from a short retirement, and they still had most of the team that won the Super Bowl a year prior. Now, they are facing a downfall of epic proportions.
Tom Brady is gone, but there are still a lot of stars on the team. The defense is stacked with Vita Vea, Devin White, Shaq Barrett, and Lavonte David. The offense has fewer stars, but it's hard to find a veteran receiving trio as good as Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Russell Gage. The fact that they are veterans means they will make a premium, and the three of them combine for $36.6 million this season.
A large majority of that is Evans' contract, which pays him more than $23 million. He's a Buccaneers legend and not ready to say goodbye to stardom. He still has his 1,000-yard streak going. Can he keep it going this season?
It will be hard with Baker Mayfield under center, but the Bucs have an outside chance to be a sneaky team. That's still an awful division. Evans can rake in yardage against some terrible teams. We can't see the Bucs ever cutting Evans, but this is the last year of his contract. No matter what happens, this is probably the last time we'll see him throw on the number 13 at RayJay.
Tennessee Titans: Ryan Tannehill — $36.6 million
The Tennessee Titans are in the weirdest position. Are they still trying to contend? Are they in a rebuild? It seems highly unlikely they are somewhere in the middle, but they have three quarterbacks at very different points in their careers. Ryan Tannehill is a veteran making more money than he's ever seen, but he might be on his last leg. Malik Willis has to prove he can be an NFL quarterback. Will Levis was drafted early in the second round after he was projected to be a high first-rounder.
Tannehill is the one making huge money, raking in more than $36 million this season. He signed this deal, interestingly enough, so the Titans could afford to trade for Julio Jones. Now, they are paying the piper after a deal that went terribly wrong.
The Titans planned for this, specifically making this the year with the highest cap hit. Of course, the Titans thought two situations would be true. They thought they would be competitive, which is questionable at this point, and they thought the cap was going to go up significantly.
Things just got interesting in Tennessee after they signed DeAndre Hopkins. That shows they don't think they are in a full rebuild. Tannehill is here for a reason. It's the final year of his deal, but it's a year that could be mutually beneficial for the Titans and Tannehill himself.
Washington Commanders: Jonathan Allen — $21.44 million
The Washington Commanders are going to be seeing a new name on their paychecks this season. A consortium led by billionaire Josh Harris bought the franchise in the nation's capital for a little more than $6 billion. Dan Snyder is finally out in Washington, and the franchise can now heal. It will take a few years to see the actual impacts of a new owner, but for now, Harris will pay the players once signed by Snyder.
Jonathan Allen is the highest-paid player on the roster right now. Washington took him 17th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. They got lucky after he fell due to injury concerns. After playing just five games in his rookie season, Allen hasn't missed more than one game a year. He earned his second Pro Bowl appearance last year, recording 7.5 sacks and his first career interception.
Washington signed Allen to a four-year deal worth $72 million. This was a huge win for Ron Rivera and this front office. In the past, Washington struggled to keep its stars. The ownership situation didn't help. That won't be an issue anymore.
Allen should be on this list for the next two years, as well. His contract goes up a little next season and to $23 million the year after. There's no big quarterback to pay on this roster, and Terry McLaurin already signed his extension.
