Derrick Henry, Aaron Donald and 48 More Of The Highest-Paid NFL Players Who Aren’t Quarterbacks
Ask even the most casual observer of football who the most important player on the team is and you'll get the same answer: quarterback. However, ask them to rattle off the next one and you'll suddenly find wildly divergent opinions. A workhorse running back? A sure-handed receiver? A defensive end to get at the opponent's quarterback? Or a left tackle to protect your own?
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Aside from the quarterback, there's no consensus on which position is the most essential. The right player at the right position can make or break a game, but depending on the game, that can be just about any position.
There is, however, one way to get a good measure as to just how valuable a player is to his team. Player salaries in today's NFL are determined after hundreds of hours of careful scouting and statistical analysis, and those getting paid the biggest bucks are game-changers at a team's position of need.
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To better illustrate this, GOBankingRates compiled the 50 highest-paid non-quarterbacks in the NFL. By perusing which positions pop up the most often, you can also get a better sense of the ones that matter the most to the people making decisions for NFL teams.
Check out which non-quarterbacks are making the most.
Last updated: Sep. 14, 2021
Frank Clark
Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Position: Defensive end
2021 Base Salary: $18,500,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $5,200,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $2,100,000
2021 Cap Hit: $25,800,000
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DeMarcus Lawrence
Team: Dallas Cowboys
Position: Defensive end
2021 Base Salary: $17,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $5,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $3,000,000
2021 Cap Hit: $25,000,000
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Fletcher Cox
Team: Philadelphia Eagles
Position: Defensive tackle
2021 Base Salary: $15,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2021 Roster Bonus: $1,000,000
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $7,880,000
2021 Cap Hit: $23,880,000
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Von Miller
Team: Denver Broncos
Position: Outside linebacker
2021 Base Salary: $17,500,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $4,725,000
2021 Cap Hit: $22,225,000
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Amari Cooper
Team: Dallas Cowboys
Position: WR
2021 Base Salary: $20,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $2,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A
2021 Cap Hit: $22,000,000
Chandler Jones
Team: Arizona Cardinals
Position: Outside linebacker
2021 Base Salary: $15,500,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $2,333,334
2021 Cap Hit: $20,833,334
Grady Jarrett
Team: Atlanta Falcons
Position: Defensive tackle
2021 Base Salary: $13,500,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $4,500,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $2,833,000
2021 Cap Hit: $20,833,000
Joey Bosa
Team: Los Angeles Chargers
Position: Defensive end
2021 Base Salary: $13,750,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $7,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A
2021 Cap Hit: $20,750,000
Trey Flowers
Team: Detroit Lions
Position: Defensive end
2021 Base Salary: $14,375,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $5,614,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A
2021 Cap Hit: $19,989,000
D.J. Humphries
Team: Arizona Cardinals
Position: Left tackle
2021 Base Salary: $15,100,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $800,000
2021 Roster Bonus: $500,000
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $3,530,000
2021 Cap Hit: $19,930,000
Tyrann Mathieu
Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Position: Free safety
2021 Base Salary: $14,550,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $4,933,334
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $250,000
2021 Cap Hit: $19,733,334
Brandon Scherff
Team: Washington Football Team
Position: Guard
2021 Base Salary: $18,036,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A
2021 Cap Hit: $18,036,000
Allen Robinson
Team: Chicago Bears
Position: Wide receiver
2021 Base Salary: $17,880,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $100,000
2021 Cap Hit: $17,980,000
Bobby Wagner
Team: Seattle Seahawks
Position: Inside linebacker
2021 Base Salary: $13,150,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,750,000
2021 Roster Bonus: $235,294
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A
2021 Cap Hit: $17,135,294
DeForest Buckner
Team: Indianapolis Colts
Position: Defensive tackle
2021 Base Salary: $1,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2021 Roster Bonus: $16,000,000
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A
2021 Cap Hit: $17,000,000
Landon Collins
Team: Washington Football Team
Position: Strong safety
2021 Base Salary: $12,500,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: $218,750
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $1,200,000
2021 Cap Hit: $16,918,750
Davante Adams
Team: Green Bay Packers
Position: Wide receiver
2021 Base Salary: $12,250,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,600,000
2021 Roster Bonus: $437,500
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $500,000
2021 Cap Hit: $16,787,500
Mike Evans
Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Position: Wide receiver
2021 Base Salary: $12,250,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $4,387,500
2021 Cap Hit: $16,637,500
Stephon Gilmore
Team: New England Patriots
Position: CB
2021 Base Salary: $7,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,600,000
2021 Roster Bonus: $735,286
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $4,930,309
2021 Cap Hit: $16,100,000
Byron Jones
Team: Miami Dolphins
Position: Cornerback
2021 Base Salary: $14,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $2,100,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A
2021 Cap Hit: $16,100,000
Chris Godwin
Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Position: Wide receiver
2021 Base Salary: $15,983,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A
2021 Cap Hit: $15,983,000
Tyreek Hill
Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Position: Wide receiver
2021 Base Salary: $990,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $1,450,000
2021 Roster Bonus: $11,885,500
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $1,525,000
2021 Cap Hit: $15,850,500
Trae Waynes
Team: Cincinnati Bengals
Position: Cornerback
2021 Base Salary: $8,400,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $5,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: $2,000,000
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $400,000
2021 Cap Hit: $15,800,000
Odell Beckham Jr.
Team: Cleveland Browns
Position: Wide receiver
2021 Base Salary: $14,500,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2021 Roster Bonus: $1,000,000
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $250,000
2021 Cap Hit: $15,750,000
Keenan Allen
Team: Los Angeles Chargers
Position: Wide receiver
2021 Base Salary: $13,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $2,700,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A
2021 Cap Hit: $15,700,000
Mike Williams
Team: Los Angeles Chargers
Position: Wide receiver
2021 Base Salary: $15,680,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A
2021 Cap Hit: $15,680,000
Joe Haden
Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Position: Cornerback
2021 Base Salary: $7,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $5,600,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $2,975,000
2021 Cap Hit: $15,575,000
Julio Jones
Team: Tennessee Titans
Position: Wide receiver
2021 Base Salary: $15,300,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A
2021 Cap Hit: $15,300,000
Ronnie Stanley
Team: Baltimore Ravens
Position: Tackle
2021 Base Salary: $7,500,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $4,500,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $3,250,000
2021 Cap Hit: $15,250,000
Xavien Howard
Team: Miami Dolphins
Position: Cornerback
2021 Base Salary: $12,075,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $1,400,000
2021 Roster Bonus: $710,294
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $1,000,000
2021 Cap Hit: $15,185,294
Kevin Byard
Team: Tennessee Titans
Position: Free safety
2021 Base Salary: $11,200,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $1,800,000
2021 Roster Bonus: $500,000
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $1,538,000
2021 Cap Hit: $15,038,000
Andrew Norwell
Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
Position: Guard
2021 Base Salary: $12,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A
2021 Cap Hit: $15,000,000
Jarvis Landry
Team: Cleveland Browns
Position: Wide receiver
2021 Base Salary: $12,500,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $1,500,000
2021 Roster Bonus: $661,765
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $50,000
2021 Cap Hit: $14,711,765
Robert Quinn
Team: Chicago Bears
Position: Outside linebacker
2021 Base Salary: $11,500,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,100,000
2021 Roster Bonus: $100,000
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A
2021 Cap Hit: $14,700,000
Ryan Kelly
Team: Indianapolis Colts
Position: Cornerback
2021 Base Salary: $10,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2021 Roster Bonus: $4,650,000
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A
2021 Cap Hit: $14,650,000
Khalil Mack
Team: Chicago Bears
Position: Outside linebacker
2021 Base Salary: $2,046,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $6,800,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $5,800,000
2021 Cap Hit: $14,646,000
Aaron Donald
Team: Los Angeles Rams
Position: Defensive tackle
2021 Base Salary: $1,892,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $8,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $4,500,000
2021 Cap Hit: $14,392,000
Carl Lawson
Team: New York Jets
Position: Defensive end
2021 Base Salary: $6,200,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $333,333
2021 Roster Bonus: $7,800,000
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A
2021 Cap Hit: $14,333,333
Za'Darius Smith
Team: Green Bay Packers
Position: Outside linebacker
2021 Base Salary: $990,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $5,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $8,130,000
2021 Cap Hit: $14,120,000
Cam Robinson
Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
Position: Left tackle
2021 Base Salary: $13,754,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A
2021 Cap Hit: $13,754,000
D.J. Reader
Team: Cincinnati Bengals
Position: Defensive tackle
2021 Base Salary: $4,300,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $4,062,500
2021 Roster Bonus: $5,000,000
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $200,000
2021 Cap Hit: $13,562,500
Derrick Henry
Team: Tennessee Titans
Position: Running back
2021 Base Salary: $10,500,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A
2021 Cap Hit: $13,500,000
Kolton Miller
Team: Las Vegas Raiders
Position: Left tackle
2021 Base Salary: $9,500,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $1,969,333
2021 Roster Bonus: $2,000,000
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A
2021 Cap Hit: $13,469,333
Taylor Lewan
Team: Tennessee Titans
Position: Left tackle
2021 Base Salary: $11,600,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $1,793,971
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A
2021 Cap Hit: $13,393,971
Danielle Hunter
Team: Minnesota Vikings
Position: Defensive end
2021 Base Salary: $7,150,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $300,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $3,220,000
2021 Cap Hit: $13,370,000
Duane Brown
Team: Seattle Seahawks
Position: Left tackle
2021 Base Salary: $10,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $2,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: $941,176
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $350,000
2021 Cap Hit: $13,291,176
James Bradberry
Team: New York Giants
Position: Cornerback
2021 Base Salary: $5,900,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $4,100,000
2021 Cap Hit: $13,250,000
Kendall Fuller
Team: Washington Football Team
Position: Cornerback
2021 Base Salary: $10,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,125,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A
2021 Cap Hit: $13,125,000
Jack Conklin
Team: Cleveland Browns
Position: Right tackle
2021 Base Salary: $10,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $3,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A
2021 Cap Hit: $13,000,000
Yannick Ngakoue
Team: Las Vegas Raiders
Position: Defensive end
2021 Base Salary: $13,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: N/A
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: N/A
2021 Cap Hit: $13,000,000
Calais Campbell
Team: Baltimore Ravens
Position: Defensive end
2021 Base Salary: $2,000,000
2021 Signing Bonus Pay: $5,000,000
2021 Roster Bonus: N/A
2021 Miscellaneous Pay: $6,000,000
2021 Cap Hit: $13,000,000
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Joel Anderson contributed to the reporting for this article.
Methodology: In order to determine the 50 highest-paid NFL players who aren't quarterbacks, GOBankingRates used Spotrac's NFL salary rankings took the 50 players with the highest cap hit for the 2021 season and ranked them from highest to lowest total cap hit. For the top 50 highest paid non-quarterbacks GOBankingRates also found (where applicable) each players 2021 base salary, 2021 signing bonuses, 2021 roster bonuses, and 2021 miscellaneous pay including restructuring, contract incentives, and workout bonuses. All data was collected and is up to date as of August 30, 2021.
Photo Note: All images are for representational purposes only and may not represent the player's current team.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Derrick Henry, Aaron Donald and 48 More Of The Highest-Paid NFL Players Who Aren’t Quarterbacks
