Top 10 most overpaid NFL players
Unless you're a superstar, it can be difficult to earn a big-money deal in the NFL. It's a wonder these players, who either benefited from a great season or as free agents on the market, were able to nab a contract well beyond their value.
Here are the top 10 most overpaid NFL players:
Kirk Cousins, QB, Vikings
Abbie Parr / Getty Images Sport / GettyAverage salary: $28M (6th among QBs)
Signed 3-year, $84M contract in April 2018
Due in part to his back-to-back seasons under the franchise tag and teams eager for a competent signal-caller, Cousins broke the bank last offseason when he secured a fully guaranteed three-year, $84-million deal. When Cousins - who finished the season 10th in passing yards and ninth in touchdown passes - initially signed his contract, it was the second largest among QBs.
The seven-figure pact was an expensive price tag for the only 16-game starter not to engineer a single game-winning drive, per Pro Football Reference. Cousins is also notorious for struggling against winning teams (5-25 career record) and under the bright lights (5-13 in prime-time games). Minnesota better hope it can right the ship or it will be a long two years with Cousins at the helm.
Josh Norman, CB, Redskins
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyAverage salary: $15M (2nd among CBs)
Signed 5-year, $75M contract in April 2016
Norman was coming off a career year with the Panthers when he inked a deal with the Redskins, which made him the highest-paid corner in the league. Since then, he's been inconsistent.
In 2018, quarterbacks had a rating of 114.2 when targeting Norman, ranking him the second-worst among corners who played at least 550 snaps, according to PFF. Norman also allowed receivers to gain five yards or more of separation on 2.2 percent of throws where he was targeted (ranking 62nd among corners), per Player Profiler. Nearing 30 years of age, he may have difficulty returning to his prime.
Joe Flacco, QB, Broncos
Joe Amon/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images / Denver Post / GettyAverage salary: $22.13M (13th among QBs)
Signed 3-year, $66.4M extension in March 2016
Although Flacco and 2018 Broncos starter Case Keenum share identical quarterback stats over the past three campaigns, the latter was earning $4 million less per year in Denver.
| Games played | Yards/game | Comp. % | TDs | INTs | Passer rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flacco | 41 | 242 | 63.8 | 50 | 34 | 82.6 |
| Keenum | 41 | 235 | 63.8 | 49 | 33 | 86 |
The former Raven was on pace to finish with 4,382 passing yards and 21 touchdowns last year, which would've placed him seventh and 17th, respectively among QBs. John Elway has until 2021 to see if Flacco can return to his Super Bowl XLVII form, or Denver could cut the 34-year-old and not incur any dead money against the team's salary cap total.
Sammy Watkins, WR, Chiefs
Diamond Images / Diamond Images / GettyAverage salary: $16M (7th among WRs)
Signed 3-year, $48M contract in March 2018
After inking his deal with the Chiefs, it was expected Watkins would produce more than the 39 catches he had in 2017. However, the 26-year-old only totaled 40 receptions for 519 yards in 10 games last year prior to his injury. Watkins was on pace for 64 catches and 830 receiving yards, which would've ranked him 43rd and 32nd among wideouts in 2018, respectively.
In the last four years, Watkins has missed close to 25 percent of games due to various injuries, ranging from concussions to a lingering foot issue. Even with his health concerns, the Chiefs still paid him as an elite talent. With the offensive weapons already in Kansas City, one has to wonder if Watkins' money could've been better suited for defensive playmakers. In 2019, Watkins will be the highest-paid receiver with a $19.2-million cap hit, and yet, he is far from the top producer among his position group.
Alec Ogletree, LB, Giants
Al Bello / Getty Images Sport / GettyAverage salary: $10.68M (5th among ILBs)
Signed 4-year, $42.75M contract in October 2017
For receiving Bobby Wagner money, Ogletree, who signed an extension with the Rams before he was traded to the Giants, produced subpar numbers last year. He accumulated 93 total tackles, one sack, and six tackles for loss.
Ogletree was essentially paid $114,838 per tackle in 2018, largely surpassing other inside linebackers with similar numbers, such as Mason Foster ($12,977 per tackle) and Wesley Woodyard ($30,973 per tackle). Both linebackers also make less than half of Ogletree's average salary. The Giants are tied to him until 2022.
LeSean McCoy, RB, Bills
Mark Brown / Getty Images Sport / GettyAverage salary: $8M (5th among RBs)
Signed 5-year, $40M contract in March 2015
Despite being the sole offensive weapon for the rebuilding Bills last year, McCoy wasn't on pace to finish with more than 1,000 yards from scrimmage after accumulating 1,586 total yards the year prior.
McCoy, who had 514 rushing yards in 2018, was essentially paid $15,564 for every rushing yard based on his average salary. In stark comparison, Adrian Peterson earned $972 per rushing yard after being picked up by the Redskins on a veteran's minimum $1-million contract. The drastic shift in value showcases how poorly a long-term deal can age when given to an older running back. Entering the final year of his contract, the Bills could move on from the 30-year-old if they believe his most explosive days are behind him.
Jimmy Graham, TE, Packers
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyAverage salary: $10M (1st among TEs)
Signed 3-year, $30M contract in March 2018
Graham disappointed in his first year in green and gold, hauling in only two touchdowns after bringing in 10 in 2017 with the Seahawks. It was expected the 6-foot-7, 265-pound tight end would add another dimension to the Packers' offense, but he totaled only 636 receiving yards, finishing ninth among his position group.
Considering Graham is the highest-paid tight end in the league and earned $5 million per touchdown last year, Matt LaFleur needs to better integrate the five-time Pro Bowler in order to justify his cost.
Anthony Hitchens, LB, Chiefs
Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images Sport / GettyAverage salary: $9M (9th among ILBs)
Signed 5-year, $45M contract in March 2018
After four years with the Cowboys, the Chiefs nabbed Hitchens last offseason to secure defensive stability after the departure of Derrick Johnson. Hitchens' contract was a byproduct of great timing as the right franchise was willing to overpay for his talents.
The 27-year-old may have totaled over 135 tackles last season, but he was torched in coverage. Opposing quarterbacks had a 126.5 rating when targeting Hitchens (second-highest among linebackers who played at least 400 snaps in coverage) and he allowed 58 receptions on 63 targets (92.1 percent, the highest among LBs), per PFF. Hitchens' total tackles place him fifth among inside linebackers, but he only forced one fumble and failed to record a sack in 2018.
Nate Solder, LT, Giants
Steven Ryan / Getty Images Sport / GettyAverage salary: $15.5M (3rd among OTs)
Signed 3-year, $66.4M contract in March 2018
When Solder inked his deal with the Giants in free agency, he was making $2 million more per year than the next highest tackle, a contract he didn't live up to in 2018.
Solder allowed 33 pressures on the Giants' offensive line, ranking 17th among tackles who played at least 900 snaps last year. He was also responsible for seven of Eli Manning's 47 sacks last year, the seventh-most allowed by a tackle, according to PFF.
Landon Collins, S, Redskins
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyAverage salary: $14M (1st among safeties)
Signed 6-year, $84M contract in March 2019
A year after free-agent safeties struggled to land deals, Earl Thomas, Tyrann Mathieu, and Landon Collins all inked substantial, long-term contracts. Collins' $84-million payday may be attributed to the NFL's offensive outburst in 2018, but his contract is still an overpayment.
Reshad Jones' average salary of $12 million was the highest among safeties entering the offseason before Collins reset the market. Collins has solidified himself as an elite talent, but with the Redskins' cap tied up in his contract, and their offense short of weapons, they'd better hope the defense can excel with what it has.
(Contract numbers courtesy: Spotrac)
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