Net Worth / Sports

Derrick Henry, Aaron Donald and 48 More of the Highest-Paid NFL Players Who Aren’t Quarterbacks

Oct 2, 2022

8 min Read

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.

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.

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Frank Clark

Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Position: Defensive end
2022 Cap Hit: $13,700,000
2022 Base Salary: $3,725,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $7,475,000
2022 Roster Bonus: $900,000
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: $1,600,000

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Quenton Nelson

Team: Indianapolis Colts
Position: Guard
2022 Cap Hit: $13,754,000
2022 Base Salary: N/A
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

William Jackson

Team: Washington Commanders
Position: Cornerback
2022 Cap Hit: $13,812,500
2022 Base Salary: $5,000,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,000,000
2022 Roster Bonus: $5,562,500
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: $250,000

Bradley Chubb

Team: Denver Broncos
Position: Outside linebacker
2022 Cap Hit: $13,926,000
2022 Base Salary: $13,926,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

Trent Williams

Team: San Francisco 49ers
Position: Left tackle
2022 Cap Hit: $13,987,647
2022 Base Salary: $7,250,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $6,020,000
2022 Roster Bonus: $617,647
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: $100,000

Mike Williams

Team: Los Angeles Chargers
Position: Wide receiver
2022 Cap Hit: $14,000,000
2022 Base Salary: $7,000,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $7,000,000
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

DeMarcus Lawrence

Team: Dallas Cowboys
Position: Defensive end
2022 Cap Hit: $14,000,000
2022 Base Salary: $3,000,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $8,000,000
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: $3,000,000

Trey Hendrickson

Team: Cincinnati Bengals
Position: Defensive end
2022 Cap Hit: $14,488,235
2022 Base Salary: $5,800,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $2,500,000
2022 Roster Bonus: $6,188,235
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

Romeo Okwara

Team: Detroit Lions
Position: Outside linebacker
2022 Cap Hit: $14,500,000
2022 Base Salary: $11,000,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,500,000
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

Taylor Lewan

Team: Tennessee Titans
Position: Left tackle
2022 Cap Hit: $14,693,791
2022 Base Salary: $12,900,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $1,793,971
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

Budda Baker

Team: Arizona Cardinals
Position: Safety
2022 Cap Hit: $14,775,000
2022 Base Salary: $11,000,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $2,000,000
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: $1,775,000

Lavonte David

Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Position: Outside linebacker
2022 Cap Hit: $14,785,000
2022 Base Salary: $12,500,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $2,285,000
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

Nelson Agholor

Team: New England Patriots
Position: Wide receiver
2022 Cap Hit: $14,882,345
2022 Base Salary: $9,000,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $5,000,000
2022 Roster Bonus: $882,345
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

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Hunter Henry

Team: New England Patriots
Position: Tight end
2022 Cap Hit: $15,000,000
2022 Base Salary: $9,000,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $5,000,000
2022 Roster Bonus: $1,000,000
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

Derrick Henry

Team: Tennessee Titans
Position: Running back
2022 Cap Hit: $15,000,000
2022 Base Salary: $12,000,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,000,000
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

Eddie Jackson

Team: Chicago Bears
Position: Safety
2022 Cap Hit: $15,090,000
2022 Base Salary: $11,000,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $2,400,000
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: $1,690,000

Jake Matthews

Team: Atlanta Falcons
Position: Left tackle
2022 Cap Hit: $15,189,200
2022 Base Salary: $1,500,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $5,289,200
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: $8,400,000

Carl Lawson

Team: New York Jets
Position: Defensive end
2022 Cap Hit: $15,333,333
2022 Base Salary: $15,000,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $333,333
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

Marcus Peters

Team: Baltimore Ravens
Position: Cornerback
2022 Cap Hit: $15,500,000
2022 Base Salary: $10,000,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $2,000,000
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: $3,500,000

Lane Johnson

Team: Philadelphia Eagles
Position: Right tackle
2022 Cap Hit: $15,763,000
2022 Base Salary: $7,000,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $600,000
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: $8,163,000

J.J. Watt

Team: Arizona Cardinals
Position: Defensive end
2022 Cap Hit: $15,900,000
2022 Base Salary: $11,250,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $2,400,000
2022 Roster Bonus: $2,250,000
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

DeForest Buckner

Team: Indianapolis Colts
Position: Defensive tackle
2022 Cap Hit: $16,000,000
2022 Base Salary: $11,000,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2022 Roster Bonus: $5,000,000
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

Tre’Davious White

Team: Buffalo Bills
Position: Cornerback
2022 Cap Hit: $16,403,755
2022 Base Salary: $9,950,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $2,100,000
2022 Roster Bonus: $661,755
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: $3,692,000

Shaquill Griffin

Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
Position: Cornerback
2022 Cap Hit: $16,441,176
2022 Base Salary: $11,500,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $4,000,000
2022 Roster Bonus: $441,176
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: $500,000

Matt Judon

Team: New England Patriots
Position: Outside linebacker
2022 Cap Hit: $16,500,000
2022 Base Salary: $11,000,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $4,500,000
2022 Roster Bonus: $1,000,000
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

Orlando Brown, Jr.

Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Position: Left tackle
2022 Cap Hit: $16,662,000
2022 Base Salary: $16,662,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

Robert Quinn

Team: Chicago Bears
Position: Outside linebacker
2022 Cap Hit: $17,137,500
2022 Base Salary: $12,800,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,100,000
2022 Roster Bonus: $1,237,500
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

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Cameron Heyward

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Position: Defensive tackle
2022 Cap Hit: $17,406,250
2022 Base Salary: $6,500,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $4,050,000
2022 Roster Bonus: $4,500,000
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: $2,356,250

C.J. Moseley

Team: New York Jets
Position: Inside linebacker
2022 Cap Hit: $17,500,000
2022 Base Salary: $16,000,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $1,500,000
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

Tyron Smith

Team: Dallas Cowboys
Position: Left tackle
2022 Cap Hit: $17,505,000
2022 Base Salary: $13,500,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: $4,005,000

Laremy Tunsil

Team: Houston Texans
Position: Left tackle
2022 Cap Hit: $17,707,988
2022 Base Salary: $1,035,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,250,000
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: $13,422,988

Cooper Kupp

Team: Los Angeles Rams
Position: Wide receiver
2022 Cap Hit: $17,800,000
2022 Base Salary: $10,000,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $5,500,000
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: $2,300,000

Javon Hargrave

Team: Philadelphia Eagles
Position: Defensive tackle
2022 Cap Hit: $17,802,000
2022 Base Salary: $12,750,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $2,450,000
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: $2,602,000

DeAndre Hopkins

Team: Arizona Cardinals
Position: Wide receiver
2022 Cap Hit: $17,950,000
2022 Base Salary: $6,650,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $5,500,000
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: $5,800,000

Ezekiel Elliott

Team: Dallas Cowboys
Position: Running back
2022 Cap Hit: $18,220,000
2022 Base Salary: $12,400,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $1,500,000
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: $4,320,000

Donovan Smith

Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Position: Left tackle
2022 Cap Hit: $18,400,000
2022 Base Salary: $15,750,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $2,650,000
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

Ronnie Stanley

Team: Baltimore Ravens
Position: Left tackle
2022 Cap Hit: $18,552,000
2022 Base Salary: $9,500,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $4,500,000
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: $4,552,000

Justin Simmons

Team: Denver Broncos
Position: Free safety
2022 Cap Hit: $18,850,000
2022 Base Salary: $15,100,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,750,000
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

Taylor Decker

Team: Detroit Lions
Position: Left tackle
2022 Cap Hit: $18,900,000
2022 Base Salary: $14,750,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $1,500,000
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: $2,650,000

Keenan Allen

Team: Los Angeles Chargers
Position: Wide receiver
2022 Cap Hit: $19,200,000
2022 Base Salary: $16,500,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $2,700,000
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

Bud Dupree

Team: Tennessee Titans
Position: Defensive end
2022 Cap Hit: $19,200,000
2022 Base Salary: $16,000,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,200,000
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

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Deion Jones

Team: Atlanta Falcons
Position: Inside linebacker
2022 Cap Hit: $20,018,431
2022 Base Salary: $9,640,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $2,200,000
2022 Roster Bonus: $5,037,647
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: $1,750,000

Garett Bolles

Team: Denver Broncos
Position: Left tackle
2022 Cap Hit: $21,000,000
2022 Base Salary: $17,000,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $4,000,000
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

Kenny Golladay

Team: New York Giants
Position: Wide receiver
2022 Cap Hit: $21,150,000
2022 Base Salary: $13,000,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,400,000
2022 Roster Bonus: $4,500,000
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: $250,000

Jalen Ramsey

Team: Los Angeles Rams
Position: Cornerback
2022 Cap Hit: $23,200,000
2022 Base Salary: $15,000,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $5,000,000
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: $3,200,000

Aaron Donald

Team: Los Angeles Rams
Position: Defensive tackle
2022 Cap Hit: $24,000,000
2022 Base Salary: $1,500,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $13,000,000
2022 Roster Bonus: $5,000,000
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: $4,500,000

Leonard Williams

Team: New York Giants
Position: Defensive end
2022 Cap Hit: $27,300,000
2022 Base Salary: $19,000,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $7,500,000
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

Joey Bosa

Team: Los Angeles Chargers
Position: Defensive end
2022 Cap Hit: $28,250,000
2022 Base Salary: $21,250,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $7,000,000
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

Chris Jones

Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Position: Defensive tackle
2022 Cap Hit: $29,415,667
2022 Base Salary: $3,750,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2022 Roster Bonus: $18,124,000
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: $7,541,667

T.J. Watt

Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Position: Outside linebacker
2022 Cap Hit: $31,118,694
2022 Base Salary: $24,000,000
2022 Signing Bonus Pay: $7,118,694
2022 Roster Bonus: N/A
2022 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A

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Joel Anderson contributed to the reporting for this article.

Methodology: GOBankingRates, in order to determine the 50 highest-paid NFL players who aren’t quarterbacks, used Spotrac’s NFL salary rankings took the 50 players with the highest cap hit for the 2022 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 2022 base salary, 2022 signing bonuses, 2022 roster bonuses, and 2022 miscellaneous pay including restructuring, contract incentives, and workout bonuses. All data was collected and is up to date as of Aug. 23, 2022.

About the Author

Jami Farkas

Jami Farkas holds a communications degree from California State University, Fullerton, and has worked as a reporter or editor at daily newspapers in all four corners of the United States. She brings to GOBankingRates experience as a sports editor, business editor, religion editor, digital editor — and more. With a passion for real estate, she passed the real estate licensing exam in her state and is still weighing whether to take the plunge into selling homes — or just writing about selling homes.

Frank Clark

Quenton Nelson

William Jackson

Bradley Chubb

Trent Williams

Mike Williams

DeMarcus Lawrence

Trey Hendrickson

Romeo Okwara

Taylor Lewan

Budda Baker

Lavonte David

Nelson Agholor

Hunter Henry

Derrick Henry

Eddie Jackson

Jake Matthews

Carl Lawson

Marcus Peters

Lane Johnson

J.J. Watt

DeForest Buckner

Tre’Davious White

Shaquill Griffin

Matt Judon

Orlando Brown, Jr.

Robert Quinn

Cameron Heyward

C.J. Moseley

Tyron Smith

Laremy Tunsil

Cooper Kupp

Javon Hargrave

DeAndre Hopkins

Ezekiel Elliott

Donovan Smith

Ronnie Stanley

Justin Simmons

Taylor Decker

Keenan Allen

Bud Dupree

Deion Jones

Garett Bolles

Kenny Golladay

Jalen Ramsey

Aaron Donald

Leonard Williams

Joey Bosa

Chris Jones

T.J. Watt

About the Author

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