Decisions made by sports team management often leave fans scratching their heads. Why would they pay so much for a player that hasn’t displayed much talent? Why let an all-star leave because they want $16 million instead of %15 million? At the end of the day, the NFL is a business, and the interests of owners and fans don’t always align.
Players also range in their demands. Some may take pay cuts to play with other excellent players in the hopes of creating a championship team while others aim to get every dollar that they’re worth. In a sport that’s as brutal as football, careers can be very short and it’s hard to blame anyone trying to cash out while they can.
As fans we wonder why players would do anything but sacrifice everything to bring our team a championship. And while loyalty and dedication are celebrated by fans, owners and teams will trade or cut players with little to no notice.
To determine the NFL franchises paying their players the most, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data from sports business website Spotrac. Teams were ranked based on the salaries being paid to players with active contracts for the 2021 NFL season. Data is accurate as of September 15, 2021.
Player salaries are often influenced by when they’re negotiating new contracts. If a player just had a big injury in a contract year, it can really hurt their salary. However, if they’re coming off a successful season, especially a championship, they have a lot of room to negotiate.
In 2013, Joe Flacco became the highest paid quarterback at the time, signing a $120 million deal shortly after winning the Super Bowl. He had a great performance and year but he doesn’t even make the list of 30 best quarterbacks of all time.
It can be difficult in a game as complicated as football to understand who is actually worth what and what impact they are having on the field. Technology has revolutionized sports with the introduction of analytics and advanced statistics. However, it also doesn’t hurt to look at who’s had the most success over the years. Check out the players with the most Super Bowl rings.
Click here to see which teams pay their players the highest salaries
Source: Grant Halverson / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
32. Carolina Panthers
> 2021 cap spending: $110,233,896
> Avg. salary value: $2,079,885
> Position group earning the most: Defensive line, $21.6 million
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Source: Quinn Harris / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
31. Detroit Lions
> 2021 cap spending: $116,147,968
> Avg. salary value: $2,277,411
> Position group earning the most: Linebackers, $40.1 million
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Source: Chris Graythen / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
30. New Orleans Saints
> 2021 cap spending: $117,490,928
> Avg. salary value: $2,216,810
> Position group earning the most: Defensive backs, $27.8 million
Source: Patrick McDermott / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
29. New York Jets
> 2021 cap spending: $127,312,566
> Avg. salary value: $2,546,251
> Position group earning the most: Offensive line, $35.3 million
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Source: Mitchell Leff / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
28. Philadelphia Eagles
> 2021 cap spending: $128,992,099
> Avg. salary value: $2,433,813
> Position group earning the most: Defensive line, $36.6 million
Source: Wesley Hitt / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
27. Baltimore Ravens
> 2021 cap spending: $129,372,172
> Avg. salary value: $2,640,248
> Position group earning the most: Defensive line, $30.8 million
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Source: Justin K. Aller / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
26. Pittsburgh Steelers
> 2021 cap spending: $132,942,376
> Avg. salary value: $2,508,347
> Position group earning the most: Defensive line, $30.1 million
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Source: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
25. Los Angeles Rams
> 2021 cap spending: $138,005,725
> Avg. salary value: $2,653,956
> Position group earning the most: Defensive line, $25.0 million
Source: Al Bello / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
24. Atlanta Falcons
> 2021 cap spending: $147,624,421
> Avg. salary value: $2,785,366
> Position group earning the most: Quarterbacks, $28.4 million
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Source: Wesley Hitt / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
23. Tennessee Titans
> 2021 cap spending: $149,088,082
> Avg. salary value: $2,812,983
> Position group earning the most: Offensive line, $41.2 million
Source: Rob Carr / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
22. Washington Football Team
> 2021 cap spending: $149,165,874
> Avg. salary value: $2,868,575
> Position group earning the most: Defensive backs, $43.3 million
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Source: Bob Levey / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
21. Houston Texans
> 2021 cap spending: $149,440,888
> Avg. salary value: $2,767,424
> Position group earning the most: Defensive backs, $25.8 million
Source: Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
20. Chicago Bears
> 2021 cap spending: $151,505,745
> Avg. salary value: $2,858,599
> Position group earning the most: Linebackers, $41.5 million
Source: Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
19. Las Vegas Raiders
> 2021 cap spending: $152,459,665
> Avg. salary value: $2,823,327
> Position group earning the most: Defensive line, $30.9 million
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Source: Dustin Bradford / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
18. Denver Broncos
> 2021 cap spending: $152,898,994
> Avg. salary value: $2,884,887
> Position group earning the most: Linebackers, $41.3 million
Source: Kathryn Riley / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
17. New England Patriots
> 2021 cap spending: $152,953,243
> Avg. salary value: $2,941,409
> Position group earning the most: Defensive backs, $38.8 million
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Source: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
16. San Francisco 49ers
> 2021 cap spending: $153,339,920
> Avg. salary value: $3,006,665
> Position group earning the most: Defensive line, $41.4 million
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Source: Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
15. Green Bay Packers
> 2021 cap spending: $154,868,292
> Avg. salary value: $2,922,043
> Position group earning the most: Linebackers, $33.3 million
Source: Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
14. Seattle Seahawks
> 2021 cap spending: $155,533,388
> Avg. salary value: $2,880,248
> Position group earning the most: Quarterbacks, $33.8 million
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Source: James Gilbert / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
13. Jacksonville Jaguars
> 2021 cap spending: $157,636,026
> Avg. salary value: $2,974,265
> Position group earning the most: Offensive line, $50.3 million
Source: Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
12. New York Giants
> 2021 cap spending: $159,140,860
> Avg. salary value: $3,002,658
> Position group earning the most: Defensive backs, $38.7 million
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Source: Norm Hall / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
11. Minnesota Vikings
> 2021 cap spending: $160,061,866
> Avg. salary value: $3,020,035
> Position group earning the most: Defensive line, $33.0 million
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Source: Norm Hall / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
10. Arizona Cardinals
> 2021 cap spending: $160,189,321
> Avg. salary value: $3,022,440
> Position group earning the most: Linebackers, $49.2 million
Source: Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
9. Cincinnati Bengals
> 2021 cap spending: $164,086,503
> Avg. salary value: $3,155,510
> Position group earning the most: Defensive line, $42.0 million
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Source: Michael Reaves / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
8. Miami Dolphins
> 2021 cap spending: $164,136,721
> Avg. salary value: $3,156,475
> Position group earning the most: Defensive backs, $50.6 million
Source: Justin Casterline / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
7. Indianapolis Colts
> 2021 cap spending: $166,587,083
> Avg. salary value: $3,143,153
> Position group earning the most: Offensive line, $40.4 million
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Source: Dylan Buell / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
> 2021 cap spending: $168,984,955
> Avg. salary value: $3,188,395
> Position group earning the most: Offensive line, $35.5 million
Source: Jamie Squire / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
5. Kansas City Chiefs
> 2021 cap spending: $169,003,383
> Avg. salary value: $3,188,743
> Position group earning the most: Defensive line, $46.6 million
Source: Julio Aguilar / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
4. Dallas Cowboys
> 2021 cap spending: $169,680,300
> Avg. salary value: $3,201,515
> Position group earning the most: Defensive line, $36.1 million
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Source: Rob Carr / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
3. Los Angeles Chargers
> 2021 cap spending: $170,936,812
> Avg. salary value: $3,225,223
> Position group earning the most: Defensive line, $40.6 million
Source: Bryan M. Bennett / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
2. Buffalo Bills
> 2021 cap spending: $173,906,689
> Avg. salary value: $3,281,258
> Position group earning the most: Defensive line, $44.4 million
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Source: Justin K. Aller / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
1. Cleveland Browns
> 2021 cap spending: $188,607,682
> Avg. salary value: $3,558,636
> Position group earning the most: Offensive line, $48.8 million
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