Derrick Henry, Aaron Donald and 48 More Of The Highest-Paid NFL Players Who Aren't Quarterbacks

Ask even the most casual observer of football who the most important player on the team is and you’ll get the same answer: quarterback. However, ask them to rattle off the next one and you’ll suddenly find wildly divergent opinions. A workhorse running back? A sure-handed receiver? A defensive end to get at the opponent’s quarterback? Or a left tackle to protect your own?

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Aside from the quarterback, there’s no consensus on which position is the most essential. The right player at the right position can make or break a game, but depending on the game, that can be just about any position.

There is, however, one way to get a good measure as to just how valuable a player is to his team. Player salaries in today’s NFL are determined after hundreds of hours of careful scouting and statistical analysis, and those getting paid the biggest bucks are game-changers at a team’s position of need.

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To better illustrate this, GOBankingRates compiled the 50 highest-paid non-quarterbacks in the NFL. By perusing which positions pop up the most often, you can also get a better sense of the ones that matter the most to the people making decisions for NFL teams.

Check out which non-quarterbacks are making the most.

Last updated: Sep. 14, 2021

Frank Clark

Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Position: Defensive end
2021 Base Salary: $18,500,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $5,200,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $2,100,000

2021 Cap Hit: $25,800,000

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DeMarcus Lawrence

Team: Dallas Cowboys
Position: Defensive end
2021 Base Salary: $17,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $5,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $3,000,000

2021 Cap Hit: $25,000,000

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Fletcher Cox

Team: Philadelphia Eagles
Position: Defensive tackle
2021 Base Salary: $15,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2021 Roster Bonus: $1,000,000
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $7,880,000

2021 Cap Hit: $23,880,000

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Von Miller

Team: Denver Broncos
Position: Outside linebacker
2021 Base Salary: $17,500,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $4,725,000

2021 Cap Hit: $22,225,000

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Amari Cooper

Team: Dallas Cowboys
Position: WR
2021 Base Salary: $20,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $2,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

2021 Cap Hit: $22,000,000

Chandler Jones

Team: Arizona Cardinals
Position: Outside linebacker
2021 Base Salary: $15,500,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $2,333,334

2021 Cap Hit: $20,833,334

Grady Jarrett

Team: Atlanta Falcons
Position: Defensive tackle
2021 Base Salary: $13,500,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $4,500,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $2,833,000

2021 Cap Hit: $20,833,000

Joey Bosa

Team: Los Angeles Chargers
Position: Defensive end
2021 Base Salary: $13,750,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $7,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

2021 Cap Hit: $20,750,000

Trey Flowers

Team: Detroit Lions
Position: Defensive end
2021 Base Salary: $14,375,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $5,614,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

2021 Cap Hit: $19,989,000

D.J. Humphries

Team: Arizona Cardinals
Position: Left tackle
2021 Base Salary: $15,100,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $800,000
2021 Roster Bonus: $500,000
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $3,530,000

2021 Cap Hit: $19,930,000

Tyrann Mathieu

Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Position: Free safety
2021 Base Salary: $14,550,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $4,933,334
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $250,000

2021 Cap Hit: $19,733,334

Brandon Scherff

Team: Washington Football Team
Position: Guard
2021 Base Salary: $18,036,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

2021 Cap Hit: $18,036,000

Allen Robinson

Team: Chicago Bears
Position: Wide receiver
2021 Base Salary: $17,880,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $100,000

2021 Cap Hit: $17,980,000

Bobby Wagner

Team: Seattle Seahawks
Position: Inside linebacker
2021 Base Salary: $13,150,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,750,000
2021 Roster Bonus: $235,294
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

2021 Cap Hit: $17,135,294

DeForest Buckner

Team: Indianapolis Colts
Position: Defensive tackle
2021 Base Salary: $1,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2021 Roster Bonus: $16,000,000
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

2021 Cap Hit: $17,000,000

Landon Collins

Team: Washington Football Team
Position: Strong safety
2021 Base Salary: $12,500,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: $218,750
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $1,200,000

2021 Cap Hit: $16,918,750

Davante Adams

Team: Green Bay Packers
Position: Wide receiver
2021 Base Salary: $12,250,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,600,000
2021 Roster Bonus: $437,500
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $500,000

2021 Cap Hit: $16,787,500

Mike Evans

Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Position: Wide receiver
2021 Base Salary: $12,250,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $4,387,500

2021 Cap Hit: $16,637,500

Stephon Gilmore

Team: New England Patriots
Position: CB
2021 Base Salary: $7,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,600,000
2021 Roster Bonus: $735,286
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $4,930,309

2021 Cap Hit: $16,100,000

Byron Jones

Team: Miami Dolphins
Position: Cornerback
2021 Base Salary: $14,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $2,100,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

2021 Cap Hit: $16,100,000

Chris Godwin

Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Position: Wide receiver
2021 Base Salary: $15,983,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

2021 Cap Hit: $15,983,000

Tyreek Hill

Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Position: Wide receiver
2021 Base Salary: $990,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $1,450,000
2021 Roster Bonus: $11,885,500
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $1,525,000

2021 Cap Hit: $15,850,500

Trae Waynes

Team: Cincinnati Bengals
Position: Cornerback
2021 Base Salary: $8,400,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $5,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: $2,000,000
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $400,000

2021 Cap Hit: $15,800,000

Odell Beckham Jr.

Team: Cleveland Browns
Position: Wide receiver
2021 Base Salary: $14,500,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2021 Roster Bonus: $1,000,000
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $250,000

2021 Cap Hit: $15,750,000

Keenan Allen

Team: Los Angeles Chargers
Position: Wide receiver
2021 Base Salary: $13,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $2,700,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

2021 Cap Hit: $15,700,000

Mike Williams

Team: Los Angeles Chargers
Position: Wide receiver
2021 Base Salary: $15,680,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

2021 Cap Hit: $15,680,000

Joe Haden

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Position: Cornerback
2021 Base Salary: $7,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $5,600,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $2,975,000

2021 Cap Hit: $15,575,000

Julio Jones

Team: Tennessee Titans
Position: Wide receiver
2021 Base Salary: $15,300,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

2021 Cap Hit: $15,300,000

Ronnie Stanley

Team: Baltimore Ravens
Position: Tackle
2021 Base Salary: $7,500,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $4,500,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $3,250,000

2021 Cap Hit: $15,250,000

Xavien Howard

Team: Miami Dolphins
Position: Cornerback
2021 Base Salary: $12,075,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $1,400,000
2021 Roster Bonus: $710,294
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $1,000,000

2021 Cap Hit: $15,185,294

Kevin Byard

Team: Tennessee Titans
Position: Free safety
2021 Base Salary: $11,200,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $1,800,000
2021 Roster Bonus: $500,000
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $1,538,000

2021 Cap Hit: $15,038,000

Andrew Norwell

Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
Position: Guard
2021 Base Salary: $12,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

2021 Cap Hit: $15,000,000

Jarvis Landry

Team: Cleveland Browns
Position: Wide receiver
2021 Base Salary: $12,500,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $1,500,000
2021 Roster Bonus: $661,765
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $50,000

2021 Cap Hit: $14,711,765

Robert Quinn

Team: Chicago Bears
Position: Outside linebacker
2021 Base Salary: $11,500,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,100,000
2021 Roster Bonus: $100,000
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

2021 Cap Hit: $14,700,000

Ryan Kelly

Team: Indianapolis Colts
Position: Cornerback
2021 Base Salary: $10,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2021 Roster Bonus: $4,650,000
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

2021 Cap Hit: $14,650,000

Khalil Mack

Team: Chicago Bears
Position: Outside linebacker
2021 Base Salary: $2,046,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $6,800,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $5,800,000

2021 Cap Hit: $14,646,000

Aaron Donald

Team: Los Angeles Rams
Position: Defensive tackle
2021 Base Salary: $1,892,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $8,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $4,500,000

2021 Cap Hit: $14,392,000

Carl Lawson

Team: New York Jets
Position: Defensive end
2021 Base Salary: $6,200,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $333,333
2021 Roster Bonus: $7,800,000
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

2021 Cap Hit: $14,333,333

Za’Darius Smith

Team: Green Bay Packers
Position: Outside linebacker
2021 Base Salary: $990,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $5,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $8,130,000

2021 Cap Hit: $14,120,000

Cam Robinson

Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
Position: Left tackle
2021 Base Salary: $13,754,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

2021 Cap Hit: $13,754,000

D.J. Reader

Team: Cincinnati Bengals
Position: Defensive tackle
2021 Base Salary: $4,300,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $4,062,500
2021 Roster Bonus: $5,000,000
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $200,000

2021 Cap Hit: $13,562,500

Derrick Henry

Team: Tennessee Titans
Position: Running back
2021 Base Salary: $10,500,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

2021 Cap Hit: $13,500,000

Kolton Miller

Team: Las Vegas Raiders
Position: Left tackle
2021 Base Salary: $9,500,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $1,969,333
2021 Roster Bonus: $2,000,000
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

2021 Cap Hit: $13,469,333

Taylor Lewan

Team: Tennessee Titans
Position: Left tackle
2021 Base Salary: $11,600,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $1,793,971
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

2021 Cap Hit: $13,393,971

Danielle Hunter

Team: Minnesota Vikings
Position: Defensive end
2021 Base Salary: $7,150,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $300,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $3,220,000

2021 Cap Hit: $13,370,000

Duane Brown

Team: Seattle Seahawks
Position: Left tackle
2021 Base Salary: $10,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $2,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: $941,176
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $350,000

2021 Cap Hit: $13,291,176

James Bradberry

Team: New York Giants
Position: Cornerback
2021 Base Salary: $5,900,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $4,100,000

2021 Cap Hit: $13,250,000

Kendall Fuller

Team: Washington Football Team
Position: Cornerback
2021 Base Salary: $10,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,125,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

2021 Cap Hit: $13,125,000

Jack Conklin

Team: Cleveland Browns
Position: Right tackle
2021 Base Salary: $10,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

2021 Cap Hit: $13,000,000

Yannick Ngakoue

Team: Las Vegas Raiders
Position: Defensive end
2021 Base Salary: $13,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

2021 Cap Hit: $13,000,000

Calais Campbell

Team: Baltimore Ravens
Position: Defensive end
2021 Base Salary: $2,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $5,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $6,000,000

2021 Cap Hit: $13,000,000

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Joel Anderson contributed to the reporting for this article.

Methodology: In order to determine the 50 highest-paid NFL players who aren’t quarterbacks, GOBankingRates used Spotrac’s NFL salary rankings took the 50 players with the highest cap hit for the 2021 season and ranked them from highest to lowest total cap hit. For the top 50 highest paid non-quarterbacks GOBankingRates also found (where applicable) each players 2021 base salary, 2021 signing bonuses, 2021 roster bonuses, and 2021 miscellaneous pay including restructuring, contract incentives, and workout bonuses. All data was collected and is up to date as of August 30, 2021.

Photo Note: All images are for representational purposes only and may not represent the player’s current team.