The NFL's Most Overpaid Player at Every Position

In this era of the salary cap, contracts can be a tightrope for NFL teams.

In a perfect world, teams hit big on players at premium positions such as Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels. With those names on affordable rookie deals, teams can then spend at other spots.

The Commanders have been doing that very thing all offseason.

However, at some point the bill always comes due. And when it does, sometimes teams overpay.

Maybe it's just because the market at positions like quarterback, wide receiver and edge-rusher has exploded or the pool of available talent at a position in free agency is shallow. Or a struggling team has to overpay players to lure them to, say, Cleveland.

Whatever the reason, there are players at every position in the NFL whose annual salary far outweighs their on-field impact.

Get too many in one place, and it can mean trouble for the whole team.

Contract data courtesy of Spotrac.

Quarterback: Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/Chris Szagola

Average Annual Salary: $55 million

On some level, it's understandable that the Jacksonville Jaguars gave quarterback Trevor Lawrence a five-year, $275 million extension in 2024.

The Jags drafted the Clemson product first overall in 2021. He led the team to a thrilling comeback win in the playoffs against the Los Angeles Chargers in 2022. His numbers were not as good the following year, but he still topped 4,000 passing yards for the second consecutive season.

However, the first year of Lawrence's new deal was an injury-marred mess. He barely completed 60 percent of his passes last season, with just 11 touchdown passes in 10 games. His 204.5 passing yards last year was a career low, and his passer rating of 85.2 ranked 28th in the NFL.

His 22-38 record as a starting quarterback is far from solely his fault—the 25-year-old hasn't exactly been put in the best position to succeed. Liam Coen will be his third head coach in five years, and Jacksonville's offensive line is below average on a good day.

But Lawrence has failed to hit even 15 touchdown passes in two of four professional campaigns and has averaged 11.5 interceptions per season.

The Jaguars and Lawrence are stuck with one another for at least a few more years. But if he struggles again in 2025, the grumbles about his viability as Jacksonville's future under center are only going to get louder.

Running Back: Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots

AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski

Average Annual Salary: $9 million

It's not easy to make big bucks in the backfield in today's NFL. There are only seven running backs in the league with an average annual salary of $10 million or more—and those backs all have resumes with multiple seasons of high-end production.

Rhamondre Stevenson of the New England Patriots isn’t quite making $10 million a season. But he still got a four-year, $36 million extension last year.

The question is why.

Yes, the 27-year-old topped 1,000 yards on the ground for the Patriots in 2022, carrying the ball 210 times for 1,040 yards and five scores. But in 2023 (before getting his payday), he missed five games and saw his yards per carry drop by a full yard.

Things got that much worse for the Oklahoma product last year. He missed time again. He averaged just 3.9 yards per carry. His 431 yards after contact ranked outside the top 20 at the position. He also fumbled seven times, the most of any NFL running back.

The 2021 fourth-rounder was already benched for a time a year ago, and the Patriots drafted Ohio State's TreVeyon Henderson in the second round of this year's draft.

If Stevenson struggles again this season, the 2025 campaign will likely be his last in Foxborough.

Wide Receiver: Christian Kirk, Houston Texans

AP Foto/Phelan M. Ebenhack

Average Annual Salary: $18 million

There is no shortage of wide receivers making big bucks in the NFL Headlined by Ja'Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals, there are eight NFL wideouts with an average annual salary of $30 million or more.

It's also not the fault of the Houston Texans that veteran wideout Christian Kirk has an average annual salary of $18 million. That contract came from the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022 after he came up just short of 1,000 yards the year before with the Arizona Cardinals.

At first, it appeared to be money well spent. His first season in Jacksonville was the best of his career. He caught 84 passes for 1,108 yards and eight scores that year. All were career highs.

The problem is the 28-year-old has just 1,166 yards in the past two seasons combined. And he has missed 14 games over the past two seasons, including nine a year ago after breaking his collarbone.

That the Jaguars essentially gave the 2018 second-rounder to the Texans just to be rid of his contract tells you all you need to know about how the past couple of years have gone.

And when Kirk hits free agency again next year, the market for his services is going to be far different than when he joined the Jaguars.

Tight End: Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Average Annual Salary: $12.5 million

In 2023, the Chicago Bears gave tight end Cole Kmet a four-year, $50 million contract extension. He responded with the best season of his five-year career: 73 catches for 719 yards and six scores.

In 2025, however, the Bears used their first pick on Michigan tight end Colston Loveland, clouding Kmet's future.

Scott Bair of Marquee Sports Network believes that even with Loveland in town, the team has a plan for the 26-year-old—largely because it's essentially stuck with him for now:

"It’s not that hard to use 12 personnel to one’s advantage in a Ben Johnson offense and Kmet has been assured that the Bears have a vision for how to use him in 2025. The Bears offense has tons of talent. I truly believe Johnson will be able to capitalize on such a surplus, even if some individual stats go down. Kmet’s overall numbers will see a decline. Take that to the bank. But he will also be an important part of this offense, which is only right for a player who has meant so much to the organization for so long."

Kmet is a good player and a fan favorite in Chicago. And despite all the trade speculation, he isn't especially likely to be moved.

But when the seventh-highest paid tight end in the league isn't even the best player at the position on your team, something is out of whack.

Offensive Tackle: Dan Moore Jr., Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/George Walker IV

Average Annual Salary: $20.5 million

It happens every year.

Truly elite offensive tackles rarely sniff free agency. Even quality starters are generally locked up before hitting the open market. But that doesn't stop teams desperate to improve the offensive line from overpaying guys who actually are available.

Such was the case with Dan Moore Jr., who got $20.5 million a season and $50 million in guarantees from the Titans despite allowing a dozen sacks with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024, per Pro Football Focus.

The 26-year-old told reporters he's aware some believe the Titans made a mistake and he aims to prove them wrong:

"Obviously I want to exceed expectations. But it's not only about proving the team right, it's about proving myself right. I feel like my expectations will always be higher than anyone else's are for me. I feel like by meeting my expectations, I'll exceed the team's expectations. So, not only do I want to prove them right. I want to prove them damn right, where (they're thinking), 'We got our guy. He didn't just do what we needed him to do, he did that and more.' That is the consensus I want in the organization."

That's a lovely sentiment, but Moore would need to improve markedly to be an OK left tackle.

He's being paid like a top-10 one. And that he most assuredly is not.

Interior Offensive Linemen: Aaron Banks, Green Bay Packers

AP Photo/Scot Tucker

Average Annual Salary: $19.25 million

Like Moore, Aaron Banks recently changed teams, signing a four-year, $77 million pact with the Packers several months ago.

While speaking to the media, the 27-year-old said the pursuit of a Super Bowl ring led him to Green Bay:

"They've been in the playoffs every year and it's a young team and guys are only getting better. As the younger guys on this team start to become older guys and then we start to bring everybody along, I just think we're really close. I think we have all the tools and all the pieces to get there, and not only get there but win it."

He added:

"It's a very competitive and hard-working team. Just playing against them, playing against this defense, it's different when you see it on tape versus actually playing against a team and kind of seeing the brotherhood and the culture that they have here. So, I was excited to join it."

Earning over $19 million a season probably didn't hurt, either.

Banks is a capable guard who started 43 games over four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. But he barely ranked inside the top 50 at his position in overall grade at Pro Football Focus, and PFF's Mason Cameron ranked the 6'5", 325-pounder as the No. 32 guard in the league in 2025.

He's the sixth-highest paid player at the position and another example of an average talent being overpaid in free agency by a team in need of help up front.

Edge-Rusher: Rashan Gary, Green Bay Packers

AP Photo/Gary McCullough

Average Annual Salary: $24 million

It's hardly unusual for edge-rushers to land big contracts. The highest-paid defensive player in the NFL (Myles Garrett) is a pass-rusher.

Rashan Gary ranks ninth among edge-rushers in average annual salary—he inked a four-year, $96 million pact with the Green Bay Packers in 2023.

That megadeal came despite an ACL tear the season before, and as Bill Huber noted for SI, Green Bay's return on investment since hasn't been great"

"Coming off a torn ACL that prematurely ended what looked like a breakout 2022 season, Gary had nine sacks and 22 quarterback hits in 2023. In 2024, he fell to 7.5 sacks and 15 quarterback hits. According to PFF, Gary went from 20th among edge rushers with 60 pressures in 2023 to 31st with 47 pressures in 2024. Detroit’s Aidan Hutchinson had 45 pressures in only five games.

"In six seasons, Gary has never had double-digit sacks. Can he finally deliver that long-awaited breakthrough season?"

Admittedly, there's more to playing the position than just quarterback sacks—Gary's acumen against the run helped get him named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in 2024.

But the 27-year-old is being paid well north of $20 million a season to rush the passer. And while his so-so sack numbers are concerning enough, his drop in pressures is that much more worrisome.

Gary isn't the only edge-rusher in the NFL who hasn't lived up to his contract. But a compelling argument can be made there isn't a player at the position under more pressure to have a big year in 2025.

Defensive Tackle: Alim McNeill, Detroit Lions

AP Photo/David Dermer

Average Annual Salary: $24.25 million

The 2024 season was the most successful in the history of the Detroit Lions, at least in terms of regular-season wins. But not long after signing defensive tackle Alim McNeill to a four-year, $97 million contract, he tore his ACL.

The Lions are hopeful they will have the 25-year-old back by midseason, and he told reporters that both he and his teammates are highly motivated to rebound from last year's disappointments:

"We're just going to put in that much more work to get that more prepared. There's no blueprint to it. There's no hiding from it. You have to put in the work to get (to the Super Bowl) and that's what we're going to do. It's just going to continue to grow for us. We still have a fairly young squad and still have guys still coming into their form. I for sure see a great future for us."

McNeill is a quality run defender who flashes occasionally as a pass-rusher. But he's never had more than five sacks in a season and has just 11.5 for his career. Players making upward of $25 million a season are expected to be game-wreckers. And just when he was showing some potential to be one, he tore up his knee.

The longer it takes him to recapture his past form, the worse this contract is going to look.

Linebacker: Tremaine Edmunds, Chicago Bears

AP Photo/David Dermer

Average Annual Salary: $18 million

Over his seven seasons in the NFL, Tremaine Edmunds has been consistently productive. The 2018 first-round pick for the Buffalo Bills has tallied at least 100 total tackles every season he has been in the league.

But as Bleacher Report's Kris Knox pointed out in calling his four-year, $72 million contract one of the NFL's 10 worst, what Edmunds has not been in Chicago is a true impact defender:

"Edmunds hasn't been a complete bust for the Bears. He's topped 100 tackles in each of his two seasons with the franchise while allowing an opposing passer rating below 90.0 in coverage. He has certainly had his moments.

"Edmunds has not, however, been a Pro Bowl-caliber player or helped turn Chicago's defense into a top unit. Pro Football Focus graded Edmunds as the league's 119th-best linebacker overall for the 2024 season. In other words, Edmunds has been good but not great when at his best for the Bears. In return, Chicago is paying the 27-year-old as if he was an All-Pro-level off-ball linebacker.

"Among inside 'backers, only San Francisco standout Fred Warner is earning more annually than Edmunds."

Annual salary is the only place you’ll see Edmunds compared to Warner. Edmunds is what he is: a good-but-not-great linebacker who is wildly overpaid.

His pact was a bad contract when it was signed. It hasn't aged well, either. But at least the Bears can get out of it in 2026 with a relatively minimal dead cap hit.

Cornerback: Tyson Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

Average Annual Salary: $19.125 million

Bad teams often overpay players. It's a premium of sorts they have to dole out to attract outside free agents or keep their own free agents in town.

That's really the only explanation for the four-year, $76.5 million pact the Jacksonville Jaguars handed cornerback Tyson Campbell last year.

Per Dalton Wasserman of PFF, the 25-year-old is at a career crossroads as he enters the first year of that big contract:

"Campbell is entering the first season of a four-year contract extension that pays him an annual average of more than $19 million. However, Campbell needs to return to the 2022 form that led to an excellent 80.7 PFF coverage grade in order to justify it. Over the past two seasons, he has recorded a far more mediocre 60.3 PFF coverage grade. Campbell isn’t leaving Jacksonville anytime soon, but the defense needs him to play like a star this year after ranking 25th in the NFL in team PFF coverage grade last season."

It's not just a matter of coverage grade. Campbell has allowed a completion percentage against over 60 percent each of the past two seasons. And a passer rating against of over 100.

Throw in at least five missed games in each of those two seasons, and instead of the No. 1 cornerback the Jags are paying for, they've gotten an unreliable player who has been burned in coverage as often as not.

Safety: Tre'von Moehrig, Carolina Panthers

AP Photo/Chris Carlson

Average Annual Salary: $17 million

Remember that part about bad teams overpaying players? That was the case this year with the Carolina Panthers and safety Tre'von Moehrig.

Back when the 26-year-old signed his three-year, $51 million deal with the Panthers, he told reporters that he planned to impact their new-look defense in a number of ways:

"I really think I can just provide, just like a dog mentality, a dominant mentality, every time I'm on the field. Just being able to line up in different spots on the field and make the offense have to think about what I'm doing and what I can present, so I think that's what I'll be able to bring to the table. That's kind of what (the Panthers) were mentioning, just kind of being the Swiss Army, being able to move around different spots and, like I said, just give different looks."

In fairness, Moehrig is coming off the best season of his career: 104 tackles, a sack, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and 10 passes defensed in 17 starts for the Las Vegas Raiders. But that was the first time he had been more than a replacement-level player in Sin City.

Now, maybe 2024 was his "lightbulb" moment—the season it all came together for the 2021 second-rounder. Or it could be that he is just the latest player to have one big outlier of a season before reverting to mediocrity. He has also allowed at least 65 percent of the passes thrown in his direction to be completed each of the last three years.

Making Moehrig the NFL's sixth-highest paid safety in terms of average annual salary was a gamble.