Highest Paid NFL Players

While passing the time between now and the start of Minnesota Vikings training camp, I noticed an ESPN.com article listing the highest paid players at each position. Even long snapper. The article included the highest paid player by three-year average per year and total guaranteed money. For the purpose of this little time-waster I’m looking at the three-year average per year. I’m looking at the highest paid player at each position and who should be the highest paid player at each position. Training camp can’t get here soon enough.

Quarterback

Aaron Rodgers: $50.2 million/year

The highest paid quarterback should be: 

Patrick Mahomes

Running Back

Christian McCaffrey: $17.2 million/year

Should be:

Derrick Henry

Wide Recevier

Cooper Kupp: $26.7 million/year

Should be:

Cooper Kupp

Tight End

George Kittle: $15.3 million/year

Should be:

Travis Kelce

Offensive Lineman

David Bakhtiari: $23.5 million/year

Should be:

Trent Williams

Edge Rusher

T.J. Watt: $30.5 million/year

Should be:

T.J. Watt

Defensive Tackle

Aaron Donald: $31.6 million/year

Should be:

Aaron Donald

Linebacker

Fred Warner: $19.5 million/year

Should be:

Darius Leonard

Cornerback

Jaire Alexander: $21.7 million/year

Should be:

Jalen Ramsey

Safety

Minkah Fitzpatrick: $18.4 million/year

Should be:

Minkah Fitzpatrick

Kicker

Justin Tucker: $5.4 million/year

Should be:

Justin Tucker

Punter

Michael Dickson: $3.9 million/year

Should be:

Michael Dickinson

Long Snapper

Josh Harris: $1.4 million/year

Should be:

Luke Rhodes

***

In my opinion, six players are the best paid player at their position and should be the best paid player at their position.

Cooper Kupp

T.J. Watt

Aaron Donald

Minkah Fitzpatrick

Justin Tucker

Michael Dickinson

It’s crazy to see players other than quarterbacks averaging over $30 million per year. Aaron Donald and T.J. Watt are the first non-quarterbacks to pass that number. Receivers will soon follow. Cornerbacks and maybe even offensive linemen will follow them.

I still remember well the days when ONE million was an earnings benchmark for even quarterbacks.