It’s easy to say that NFL players are overpaid. Many of them make millions upon millions of dollars each year.
But the counterargument to that is that they deserve it because they have rare talent. You can also throw in the fact that their careers are brief and many of them pay for their playing days with aches and pains for the rest of their lives.
Even when you factor that in, it’s fair to say some players truly are overpaid. If you look at price compared to production, the numbers don’t always match up. Here’s a look at 11 players whose production doesn’t match their pay.
11. Kirk Cousins, QB, Minnesota Vikings
There was a reason why the Washington Redskins used the franchise tag on Cousins in his last two seasons with the franchise that drafted him. He was decent with the Redskins but they were never sure he had greatness in him. The Redskins knew Cousins better than anyone and wouldn’t sign him to a long-term deal. But the Vikings took a massive leap of faith last year when they signed Cousins to a fully-guaranteed three-year $84 million contract. They didn’t get a lot of return as they missed the playoffs. Cousins, who will make $29 million in salary and bonuses this year needs to lead the Vikings to the postseason or people will start calling him a bust.
10. Sammy Watkins, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Watkins has been one of the greatest teases of this era. He looks the part, but doesn’t play the part of a big-time receiver. Yet, he still keeps getting paid. After three seasons in Buffalo, the Los Angeles Rams signed Watkins in 2017, thinking he would be a perfect deep threat. He wasn’t. Still, the Chiefs signed Watkins to a three-year, $48 million contract last year. Predictably, he underperformed again. He’ll make $12.2 million this season. If he underwhelms again, the Chiefs can get out of the final year of his contract with a $7 million cap hit in 2020.
9. Kwon Alexander, LB, San Francisco 49ers
The rule of thumb in the NFL these days is you don’t pay big money to a linebacker unless he’s a pass rusher. Alexander is a nice player but he’s not a pass rusher. In fact, he has only seven career sacks in only one in his last two seasons with Tampa Bay. That’s why it looks like the 49ers highly overpaid to bring in Alexander as a free agent. He got a four-year deal worth $54 million, including a $4 million signing bonus. That’s why too much for a player like Alexander. At least general manager John Lynch structured the contract wisely. The 49ers can get out of the contract as early as next year with only a $3 million cap hit.
8. Jimmy Smith, CB, Baltimore Ravens
In 2015, the Ravens gave Smith a four-year deal worth $41.1 million. At the time, the move made sense because he was 27 and in his prime. Now, 31, Smith is past his prime. He’s dealt with suspension and injuries the last three seasons. In fact, he’s only appeared in all 16 games twice in his career. Still, Smith will be paid like a top-notch corner. He’ll make $9.5 million this season.
7. LeSean McCoy, RB, Buffalo Bills
There was a time when McCoy was one of the best running backs in the league. But those days appear to be over. McCoy turned 31 in July and he’s coming off a season in which he rushed for a career-low 514 yards. He also will be playing behind a bad offensive line, so it’s hard to imagine him being a 1,000-yard rusher. But he’ll be paid like one. McCoy will count just under $9 million against this year’s cap. This is the final year of McCoy’s contract and it may end up being his final year in the NFL.
6. Josh Norman, CB, Washington Redskins
When the Redskins signed Norman away from Carolina in 2016, they thought they were getting a shutdown corner. They certainly paid him like one. Norman got a five-year contract worth $75 million, including a $15 million signing bonus. This year, he’ll make $11.3 million in cash and carry a $14.3 million cap hit. As it turns out, Norman has been decent for Washington. But it has been shown that he’s definitely not a shutdown corner.
5. Eli Manning, QB, N.Y. Giants
This is a case of a guy getting paid more for his past than for the present and future. In fact, there is no future for Manning. He’s in the final year of his contract and it’s more than likely that rookie Daniel Jones will take over as the starter at some point this season. Even if he spends much of what is the final season of his career on the bench, Manning will be compensated nicely. His $11.5 million base salary isn’t overwhelming. But when you factor in his $5 million roster bonus and $500,000 workout bonus and count $6.2 million of pro-rated signing bonus, Manning’s cap hit comes to $23.2 million.
4. Janoris Jenkins, CB, New York Giants
The Giants signed Jenkins to a five-year, $62.5 million deal in 2016 and he looked like he was worth it in his first season with New York. But his play has dropped off the last three seasons. But he’s going to make a little over $11 million in the final year of his contract. He’ll turn 31 in October, so Jenkins won’t be getting any more big-money contracts.
3. Jimmy Graham, TE, Green Bay Packers
Remember when Graham was with the New Orleans Saints? He had at least 85 catches in four of his five seasons and looked like a potential Hall of Famer. He then had three lesser years in Seattle. That should have signaled something. But the Packers clearly didn’t see it when they gave Graham a three-year, $30 million contract in 2018. But Graham didn’t produce to the level of his contract last season He had 55 catches for 636 yards and two touchdowns. Remember, this is a guy that had 16 touchdown catches for New Orleans in 2013.
2. Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Winston is entering the final season of his rookie contract and will earn $20.9 million. That’s not a ridiculous salary for a good quarterback. But Winston has failed to emerge as the franchise quarterback the Bucs were expecting when they drafted Winston No. 1 overall in 2015. There’s no question he has remarkable physical talent. But he often makes poor decisions, usually because he’s forcing throws into coverage. Part of the reason the Bucs hired Bruce Arians was because of the coach’s past success in working with quarterbacks. Arians has one season to turn Winston into a consistent quarterback. If Winston has a good season, the Bucs will re-sign him to a huge contract. If he doesn’t, they’ll let him walk and start looking for a new quarterback. By the way, history isn’t on Winston’s side. The Bucs have never signed a quarterback they drafted to a second contract.
1. Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions
Stafford has put up big numbers throughout most of his career. In fact, he once threw for over 5,000 yards. But that was way back in 2011. The NFL is about what you’ve done lately and the numbers Stafford put up last year don’t come close to matching his contract numbers. Stafford threw for 3,777 yards, his lowest since 2010. The Lions have never been big winners with Stafford, although that certainly isn’t all his fault. Still, he will make $29.5 million in salary and bonuses this year.
Pat Yasinskas has covered the NFL since 1993. He has worked for The Tampa Tribune, The Charlotte Observer and ESPN.com and writes for numerous national magazines and websites. He also has served as a voter for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
