Here’s the Highest-Paid NFL Player in Every Position

Everyone knows that quarterbacks are the marquee players in the NFL. They’re one of only two players (the center being the other) to touch the ball every play, and they control the offense. The marquee names – Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Dak Prescott, Russell Wilson among others – are all QBs.

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But there’s more to the game than just that one position. Unless all the athletes on offense who aren’t quarterbacks work in concert, victory will remain elusive no matter who handles the snaps — and the same goes for the defense.

As the 2022 season kickoff nears, the league’s stars are making plays worthy of highlight reels and raking in the dough. Take a look at the top-earning athlete at each position in the NFL.

• Player: Joe Cardona
• Team: New England Patriots
• Age: 30
• 2022 cap hit: $1,330,000
• Base salary for 2022: $1,1032,000
• Signing bonus for 2022: $130,000
• Roster bonus for 2022: $80,000
• Misc. bonuses/incentives for 2022: N/A

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• Player: Michael Dickson
• Team: Seattle Seahawks
• Age: 26
• 2022 cap hit: $4,383,059
• Base salary for 2022: $3,083,059
• Signing bonus for 2022: $1,300,000
• Roster bonus for 2022: N/A
• Misc. bonuses/incentives for 2022: N/A

• Player: Wil Lutz
• Team: New Orleans Saints
• Age: 28
• 2022 cap hit: $5,570,000
• Base salary for 2022: $3,400,000
• Signing bonus for 2022: $1,500,000
• Roster bonus for 2022: $200,000
• Misc. bonuses/incentives for 2022: $920,000

• Player: Derek Watt
• Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
• Age: 29
• 2022 cap hit: $4,713,334
• Base salary for 2022: $2,750,000
• Signing bonus for 2022: $1,084,334
• Roster bonus for 2022: N/A
• Misc. bonuses/incentives for 2022: $880,000

• Player: Jordan Poyer
• Team: Buffalo Bills
• Age: 31
• 2022 cap hit: $10,776,464
• Base salary for 2022: $5,600,000
• Signing bonus for 2022: $1,000,000
• Roster bonus for 2022: $876,464
• Misc. bonuses/incentives for 2022: $3,300,000

• Player: Rodney Hudson
• Team: Arizona Cardinals
• Age: 33
• 2022 cap hit: $12,610,000
• Base salary for 2022: $10,850,000
• Signing bonus for 2022: N/A
• Roster bonus for 2022: N/A
• Misc. bonuses/incentives for 2022: $1,760,000

• Player: Quenton Nelson
• Team: Indianapolis Colts
• Age: 26
• 2022 cap hit: $13,754,000
• Base salary for 2022: $15,030,000
• Signing bonus for 2022: N/A
• Roster bonus for 2022: N/A
• Misc. bonuses/incentives for 2022: N/A

• Player: Hunter Henry
• Team: New England Patriots
• Age: 27
• 2022 cap hit: $15,000,000
• Base salary for 2022: $9,000,000
• Signing bonus for 2022: $5,000,000
• Roster bonus for 2022: $1,000,000
• Misc. bonuses/incentives for 2022: N/A

• Player: Lane Johnson
• Team: Philadelphia Eagles
• Age: 32
• 2022 cap hit: $15,763,000
• Base salary for 2022: $7,000,000
• Signing bonus for 2022: $600,000
• Roster bonus for 2022: N/A
• Misc. bonuses/incentives for 2022: $8,163,000

• Player: Ezekiel Elliott
• Team: Dallas Cowboys
• Age: 27
• 2022 cap hit: $18,220,000
• Base salary for 2022: $12,400,000
• Signing bonus for 2022: $1,500,000
• Roster bonus for 2022: N/A
• Misc. bonuses/incentives for 2022: $4,320,000

• Player: Justin Simmons
• Team: Denver Broncos
• Age: 28
• 2022 cap hit: $18,850,000
• Base salary for 2022: $15,100,000
• Signing bonus for 2022: $3,750,000
• Roster bonus for 2022: N/A
• Misc. bonuses/incentives for 2022: N/A

• Player: Deion Jones
• Team: Atlanta Falcons
• Age: 27
• 2022 cap hit: $20,018,431
• Base salary for 2022: $9,640,000
• Signing bonus for 2022: $2,200,000
• Roster bonus for 2022: $5,037,647
• Misc. bonuses/incentives for 2022: $3,140,784

• Player: Garett Bolles
• Team: Denver Broncos
• Age: 30
• 2022 cap hit: $21,000,000
• Base salary for 2022: $17,000,000
• Signing bonus for 2022: $4,000,000
• Roster bonus for 2022: N/A
• Misc. bonuses/incentives for 2022: N/A

• Player: Kenny Golladay
• Team: New York Giants
• Age: 29
• 2022 cap hit: $21,150,000
• Base salary for 2022: $13,000,000
• Signing bonus for 2022: $3,400,000
• Roster bonus for 2022: $4,500,000
• Misc. bonuses/incentives for 2022: $250,000

• Player: Jalen Ramsey
• Team: Los Angeles Rams
• Age: 27
• 2022 cap hit: $23,200,000
• Base salary for 2022: $15,000,000
• Signing bonus for 2022: $5,000,000
• Roster bonus for 2022: N/A
• Misc. bonuses/incentives for 2022: $3,200,000

• Player: Leonard Williams
• Team: New York Giants
• Age: 28
• 2022 cap hit: $27,300,000
• Base salary for 2022: $19,000,000
• Signing bonus for 2022: $7,500,000
• Roster bonus for 2022: N/A
• Misc. bonuses/incentives for 2022: $800,000

• Player: Chris Jones
• Team: Kansas City Chiefs
• Age: 28
• 2022 cap hit: $29,415,667
• Base salary for 2022: $3,750,000
• Signing bonus for 2022: N/A
• Roster bonus for 2022: $18,124,000
• Misc. bonuses/incentives for 2022: $7,541,667

• Player: T.J. Watt
• Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
• Age: 27
• 2022 cap hit: $31,118,694
• Base salary for 2022: $24,000,000
• Signing bonus for 2022: $7,118,694
• Roster bonus for 2022: N/A
• Misc. bonuses/incentives for 2022: N/A

• Player: Ryan Tannehill
• Team: Tennessee Titans
• Age: 34
• 2022 cap hit: $38,600,000
• Base salary for 2022: $29,000,000
• Signing bonus for 2022: $5,000,000
• Roster bonus for 2022: N/A
• Misc. bonuses/incentives for 2022: $4,600,000

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Methodology: For this piece GOBankingRates used Spotrac data to find the highest paid NFL player in every position. Using Spotrac’s positional data GOBankingRates found the highest paid player for all 20 positions in terms of (1) overall 2022 cap hit. GOBankingRates also found: (2) base salary for 2022; (3) signing bonus for 2022; (4) roster bonuses for 2022; and (5) workout/miscellaneous bonuses for 2022 (which included any restructuring). GOBankingRates also noted the current age and team for each of the highest paid players. All data was collected and is up to date as of Aug. 23, 2022.