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?
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.Â
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: $1,600,000Â
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/AÂ
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/AÂ
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/AÂ
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/AÂ
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/AÂ
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/AÂ
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/AÂ
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/AÂ
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/AÂ
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: $1,690,000Â
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: $8,400,000Â
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/AÂ
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: $3,500,000Â
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: $8,163,000Â
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/AÂ
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/AÂ
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/AÂ
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/AÂ
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: $2,356,250Â
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/AÂ
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: $4,005,000Â
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: $13,422,988Â
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: $2,300,000Â
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: $2,602,000Â
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: $5,800,000Â
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: $4,320,000Â
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/AÂ
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: $4,552,000Â
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/AÂ
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: $2,650,000Â
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/AÂ
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/AÂ
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/AÂ
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: $3,200,000Â
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/AÂ
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/AÂ
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/AÂ
More From GOBankingRates
- 7 Best Mystery Shopping Companies To Work For
- I'm a Self-Made Millionaire: Here Are 3 Things I Never Waste Money On
- 3 Ways to Recession Proof Your Retirement
- 9 Best Money Moves You Should Make This Week
Joel Anderson contributed to the reporting for this article.Â
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.
Share This Article:
Related Content
Top Offer Picks

Protect and Secure Your Wealth With A Gold IRA
Goldco is dedicated to helping clients protect their financial future with precious metals.

Get matched with a top-rated financial advisor in your area to review your retirement plan today!
Unlock Free Access to Top Financial Advisors Near You through WiserAdvisor's Matching!

Build A Real Estate Fortune With Arrived
Next-Gen Wealth Building: Invest in Real Estate Via Arrived.

Get Paid to Share Your Opinion
Get paid to answer surveys, watch videos, shop online, and more.

Unlock $1,600+ in Savings with AARP
Become a member for only $12 your first year and receive a free gift. Membership gives you access to discounts, programs, and services from numerous trusted brands.

Access Your Home Equity With No Monthly Payments Required
Get the cash you need now and repay the loan on your own terms later.

Search For People, Property Records & Unclaimed Money
Search For People, Property Records & Unclaimed Money with BeenVerified.

Could This Be a Perfect Investment Strategy?
Over 750k Masterworks members are all asking themselves that very question right now after this art investing platform achieved 100% positive net returns on 14 exits.

Build Your Credit By Paying Netflix
Grow Credit offers a free Mastercard you can use to pay your subscriptions and build your credit.

Sign Up For Our Free Newsletter!
Get advice on achieving your financial goals and stay up to date on the day's top financial stories.
By clicking the 'Subscribe Now' button, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can click on the 'unsubscribe' link in the email at anytime.
Thank you for signing up!


Sending you timely financial stories that you can bank on.
Sign up for our daily newsletter for the latest financial news and trending topics.
For our full Privacy Policy, click here.