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.

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. 

• 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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• 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 

• 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

• 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 

• 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

• 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 

• 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

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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

• 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

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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

• 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 

• 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

• 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

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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 

• 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

• 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 

• 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

• 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 

• 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

• 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 

• 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 

• 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

• 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.