The 50 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?

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 gauge on 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. Those getting paid the biggest bucks aren’t always the top players, but more often than not that’s just how it plays out.

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.

Last updated: Sept. 14, 2020

David Bakhtiari

• Team: Green Bay Packers
• Position: Left tackle
• 2020 base salary: $10,500,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $3,200,000
• 2020 roster bonus: $500,000
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: $500,000

2020 cap hit: $14,700,000

Bobby Wagner

• Team: Seattle Seahawks
• Position: Inside linebacker
• 2020 base salary: $10,750,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $3,750,000
• 2020 roster bonus: $250,000
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: N/A

2020 cap hit: $14,750,000

Joe Thuney

• Team: New England Patriots
• Position: Guard
• 2020 base salary: $14,781,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: N/A
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: N/A

2020 cap hit: $14,781,000

Stephon Tuitt

• Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
• Position: Defensive end
• 2020 base salary: $9,000,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $2,600,000
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: $3,340,750

2020 cap hit: $14,940,750

Eric Fisher

• Team: Kansas City Chiefs
• Position: Left tackle
• 2020 base salary: $8,750,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $2,550,000
• 2020 roster bonus: $250,000
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: $3,431,666

2020 cap hit: $14,981,666

Richard Sherman

• Team: San Francisco 49ers
• Position: Cornerback
• 2020 base salary: $8,000,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $2,000,000
• 2020 roster bonus: $937,500
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: $4,050,000

2020 cap hit: $14,987,500

Earl Thomas

• Team: Baltimore Ravens
• Position: Free safety
• 2020 base salary: $10,000,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $5,000,000
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: N/A

2020 cap hit: $15,000,000

Marcus Peters

• Team: Baltimore Ravens
• Position: Cornerback
• 2020 base salary: $10,000,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $2,000,000
• 2020 roster bonus: $3,000,000
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: N/A

2020 cap hit: $15,000,000

Allen Robinson

• Team: Chicago Bears
• Position: Wide receiver
• 2020 base salary: $10,900,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $2,000,000
• 2020 roster bonus: $2,000,000
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: $100,000

2020 cap hit: $15,000,000

Zack Martin

• Team: Dallas Cowboys
• Position: Guard
• 2020 base salary: $11,000,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $4,000,000
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: N/A

2020 cap hit: $15,000,000

Brandon Scherff

• Team: Washington Redskins
• Position: Guard
• 2020 base salary: $15,030,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: N/A
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: N/A

2020 cap hit: $15,030,000

Myles Jack

• Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
• Position: Inside linebackers
• 2020 base salary: $12,750,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $2,400,000
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: $250,000

2020 cap hit: $15,400,000

Alshon Jeffery

• Team: Philadelphia Eagles
• Position: Wide receivers
• 2020 base salary: $9,910,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $1,250,000
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: $4,286,500

2020 cap hit: $15,446,500

Le'Veon Bell

• Team: New York Jets
• Position: Running back
• 2020 base salary: $8,500,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $2,000,000
• 2020 roster bonus: $4,968,750
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: N/A

2020 cap hit: $15,468,750

J.J. Watt

• Team: Houston Texans
• Position: Defensive end
• 2020 base salary: $15,500,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: N/A
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: N/A

2020 cap hit: $15,500,000

Olivier Vernon

• Team: Cleveland Browns
• Position: Defensive end
• 2020 base salary: $15,250,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: N/A
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: $250,000

2020 cap hit: $15,500,000

Shaquil Barrett

• Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Position: Outside linebacker
• 2020 base salary: $15,828,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: N/A
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: N/A

2020 cap hit: $15,828,000

Matt Judon

• Team: Baltimore Ravens
• Position: Outside linebacker
• 2020 base salary: $15,828,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: N/A
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: N/A

2020 cap hit: $15,828,000

Bud Dupree

• Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
• Position: Outside linebacker
• 2020 base salary: $15,828,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: N/A
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: N/A

2020 cap hit: $15,828,000

Dee Ford

• Team: San Francisco 49ers
• Position: Defensive end
• 2020 base salary: $13,650,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $1,600,000
• 2020 roster bonus: $515,625
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: $100,000

2020 cap hit: $15,865,625

Lane Johnson

• Team: Philadelphia Eagles
• Position: Right tackle
• 2020 base salary: $7,785,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $2,600,000
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: $5,536,500

2020 cap hit: $15,921,500

Chris Jones

• Team: Kansas City Chiefs
• Position: Defensive tackle
• 2020 base salary: $16,126,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: N/A
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: N/A

2020 cap hit: $16,126,000

Leonard Williams

• Team: New York Giants
• Position: Defensive end
• 2020 base salary: $16,126,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: N/A
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: N/A

2020 cap hit: $16,126,000

Tyrann Mathieu

• Team: Kansas City Chiefs
• Position: Free safety
• 2020 base salary: $11,150,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $4,933,333
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: $250,000

2020 cap hit: $16,333,333

Davante Adams

• Team: Green Bay Packers
• Position: Wide receiver
• 2020 base salary: $12,000,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $3,600,000
• 2020 roster bonus: $375,000
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: $500,000

2020 cap hit: $16,475,000

Melvin Ingram

• Team: Los Angeles Chargers
• Position: Defensive end
• 2020 base salary: $14,000,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $2,625,000
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: N/A

2020 cap hit: $16,625,000

Trey Flowers

• Team: Detroit Lions
• Position: Defensive end
• 2020 base salary: $11,125,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $5,614,000
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: N/A

2020 cap hit: $16,739,000

Anthony Castonzo

• Team: Indianapolis Colts
• Position: Left tackle
• 2020 base salary: $7,000,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $10,000,000
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: N/A

2020 cap hit: $17,000,000

Sammy Watkins

• Team: Kansas City Chiefs
• Position: Wide receiver
• 2020 base salary: $7,000,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $8,000,000
• 2020 roster bonus: $875,000
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: $1,250,000

2020 cap hit: $17,125,000

Za'Darius Smith

• Team: Green Bay Packers
• Position: Outside linebacker
• 2020 base salary: $2,000,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $5,000,000
• 2020 roster bonus: $9,500,000
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: $750,000

2020 cap hit: $17,250,000

C.J. Mosley

• Team: New York Jets
• Position: Inside linebacker
• 2020 base salary: $6,000,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $1,500,000
• 2020 roster bonus: $10,000,000
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: N/A

2020 cap hit: $17,500,000

Byron Jones

• Team: Miami Dolphins
• Position: Cornerback
• 2020 base salary: $11,000,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $2,100,000
• 2020 roster bonus: $4,500,000
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: N/A

2020 cap hit: $17,600,000

Tyreek Hill

• Team: Kansas City Chiefs
• Position: Wide receiver
• 2020 base salary: $910,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $1,450,000
• 2020 roster bonus: $15,200,000
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: $180,000

2020 cap hit: $17,740,000

Yannick Ngakoue

• Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
• Position: Defensive end
• 2020 base salary: $17,788,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: N/A
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: N/A

2020 cap hit: $17,788,000

A.J. Green

• Team: Cincinnati Bengals
• Position: Wide receiver
• 2020 base salary: $17,865,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: N/A
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: N/A

2020 cap hit: $17,865,000

Taylor Lewan

• Team: Tennessee Titans
• Position: Left tackle
• 2020 base salary: $16,000,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $2,200,000
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: N/A

2020 cap hit: $18,200,000

Mike Evans

• Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Position: Wide receiver
• 2020 base salary: $16,750,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: N/A
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: $1,600,000

2020 cap hit: $18,350,000

Stephon Gilmore

• Team: New England Patriots
• Position: Cornerback
• 2020 base salary: $10,500,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $3,600,000
• 2020 roster bonus: $500,000
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: $4,070,833

2020 cap hit: $18,670,833

Frank Clark

• Team: Kansas City Chiefs
• Position: Defensive end
• 2020 base salary: $12,000,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $5,200,000
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: $2,100,000

2020 cap hit: $19,300,000

Kawann Short

• Team: Carolina Panthers
• Position: Defensive end
• 2020 base salary: $12,500,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $4,000,000
• 2020 roster bonus: $125,000
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: $2,839,000

2020 cap hit: $19,464,000

Nate Solder

• Team: New York Giants
• Position: Left tackle
• 2020 base salary: $9,900,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $4,000,000
• 2020 roster bonus: $3,000,000
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: $2,600,000

2020 cap hit: $19,500,000

Julio Jones

• Team: Atlanta Falcons
• Position: Wide receiver
• 2020 base salary: $11,200,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $5,000,000
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: $4,216,668

2020 cap hit: $20,416,668

Chandler Jones

• Team: Arizona Cardinals
• Position: Outside linebacker
• 2020 base salary: $16,000,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $3,000,000
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: $2,333,333

2020 cap hit: $21,333,333

Trenton Brown

• Team: Las Vegas Raiders
• Position: Right tackle
• 2020 base salary: $21,250,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: N/A
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: $250,000

2020 cap hit: $21,500,000

DeMarcus Lawrence

• Team: Dallas Cowboys
• Position: Defensive end
• 2020 base salary: $16,900,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $5,000,000
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: N/A

2020 cap hit: $21,900,000

DeForest Buckner

• Team: Indianapolis Colts
• Position: Defensive tackle
• 2020 base salary: $12,378,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $11,000,000
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: N/A

2020 cap hit: $23,378,000

Fletcher Cox

• Team: Philadelphia Eagles
• Position: Defensive tackle
• 2020 base salary: $11,200,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $5,200,000
• 2020 roster bonus: $1,000,000
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: $6,447,000

2020 cap hit: $23,847,000

Aaron Donald

• Team: Los Angeles Rams
• Position: Defensive tackle
• 2020 base salary: $17,000,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $8,000,000
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: N/A

2020 cap hit: $25,000,000

Von Miller

• Team: Denver Broncos
• Position: Outside linebacker
• 2020 base salary: $17,500,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $3,400,000
• 2020 roster bonus: N/A
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: $4,725,000

2020 cap hit: $25,625,000

Khalil Mack

• Team: Chicago Bears
• Position: Outside linebacker
• 2020 base salary: $13,300,000
• 2020 signing bonus pay: $6,800,000
• 2020 roster bonus: $3,900,000
• 2020 miscellaneous pay: $2,600,000

2020 cap hit: $26,600,000

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Methodology: GOBankingRates determined the 50 highest-paid NFL players who aren’t quarterbacks by using Spotrac’s NFL salary rankings across all 18 non-quarterback positions and gathered the top 20 highest earners in terms of 2020 cap hit for each position. From these 360 players, GOBankingRates took the 50 players with the highest cap hit for the 2020 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 player’s 2020 base salary, 2020 signing bonus, 2020 roster bonus and 2020 miscellaneous pay including restructuring, contract incentives and workout bonuses. All data was collected and is up to date as of May 26, 2020.

About the Author

Joel Anderson

Joel Anderson is a business and finance writer with over a decade of experience writing about the wide world of finance. Based in Los Angeles, he specializes in writing about the financial markets, stocks, macroeconomic concepts and focuses on helping make complex financial concepts digestible for the retail investor.

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