Who are the most overpaid NFL players? The joke answer is “all of them,” because making millions of dollars for being exceptionally good at football is a bit silly, but let’s treat the question with some seriousness. Who’s getting paid more than they’re worth?
Von Miller
The Bills’ edge, Von Miller, is 35 years old and has struggled to put up the kind of defensive play Buffalo wants to see. He has a six-year, $120 million contract and failed to sack any QBs in 2023. He was basically paid $6.7 million per tackle last year. That’s a cushy gig!
Michael Onwenu
No disrespect meant to OT Michael Onwenu of the Patriots, but he’s earning a weirdly high salary for his relatively uneventful career. He’s 26 and has no major accolades or accomplishments under his belt, yet he’s bringing in around $19 million per year. He must have a great agent!
Deshaun Watson
It’s time to check on the Cleveland Browns. How’s the sixth-highest paid QB in the league doing? Well, Deshaun Watson has thrown 14 touchdown passes and had 11 of them intercepted since 2021, so fans are starting to question his salary.
Cam Robinson
It seems unlikely that the Jaguars will sign Cam Robinson to an extension when his deal with them runs out at the end of this season. He’s costing them $21.9 million and has never been All-Pro or Pro Bowl. He’s unreliable, to say the least.
Jonathan Taylor
The Colts’ running back, Jonathan Taylor, is costing them $28 million over the next two seasons. He’s had one good season so far of the four he’s played, which has led many people to question why he’s bringing in so much money.
Justin Reid
The Chiefs have a lot of the highest-paid players in the league on their roster, so it’s weird that they’ve still got the good-not-great safety Justin Reid chewing up such a massive salary. With their serious dynasty ambitions, it seems like the Chiefs would be more careful with their finances.
Dak Prescott
By some metrics Dak Prescott is the highest-paid player in the league, given that he’ll be taking home a cool $60 million this season. He’s exceptionally good, there’s no doubt about that. But is he luxury tax good? It’s hard to shake the image of him throwing interceptions during a playoff game that the Cowboys lost last season.
Jaire Alexander
Alexander is good in his role as a CB for the Packers, but he’s having some trouble staying healthy. He’s missed the majority of two of the last three seasons while still taking down a hefty $21 million per year. That’s gotta sting for the Packers!
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Grady Jarrett
It isn’t 2019 anymore, so why is Grady Jarrett going to make $40.8 million across the next two seasons? The guy has only 9 sacks since 2021, making him easily one of the most overpaid defensive players in the league. The Falcons need to figure it out.
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Nick Bosa
Nick Bosa is a controversial figure, to say the least. He’s also one of the very few players on the 49ers team who is earning an outsized salary compared to his performance. He was excellent in prior years, but his numbers dropped dramatically in 2023. It’s starting to become unclear why he’s the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL.
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