The NFL season is underway and we're already seeing some surprises on the gridiron. Something that isn't a surprise is how well paid many NFL players are. Teams will go out of their way to ensure that their top players remain with their franchise and aren't lured away to their rivals. Of course, every NFL team has a salary cap and must stay under that. Of the highest paid players of the 2017 season, only seven quarterbacks claim that spot. On the other 25 teams, 19 are paying a defensive player the most. Well, they do say that defense wins games. By investing in cornerbacks and defensive ends, these teams are sending a message that they are on missions to stop their opposing quarterbacks.
Here are the 32 players who will make the most money on each NFL team this season:
#32. Jason Peters — $11.25 million
Philadelphia Eagles: Left tackle
2017 salary: $3.0 million salary, $8.0 million signing bonus, and $250,000 workout bonus
Stacy Revere/Getty Images
#31. Drew Brees — $13 million
New Orleans Saints: Quarterback
2017 salary: $13.0 million salary
#30. Gerald McCoy — $13.25 million
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Defensive tackle
2017 salary: $13.25 million salary
#29. Travis Frederick — $14.24 million
Dallas Cowboys: Center
2017 salary: $1.3 million salary, $12.9 restructure bonus
#28. Tyrod Taylor — $14.5 million
Buffalo Bills: Quarterback
2017 salary: $7.5 million salary, $7.0 million signing bonus
#27. Dre Kirkpatrick — $14.9 million
Cincinnati Bengals: Cornerback
2017 salary: $2.55 million salary, $7.0 million signing bonus, and $5.4 million in other bonuses
#26. Muhammad Wilkerson — $15 million
New York Jets: Defensive end
2017 salary: $14.75 million salary, $250,000 workout bonus
Joe Robbins/Getty Images
#25. Michael Bennett — $15.5 million
Seattle Seahawks: Defensive end
2017 salary: $6.5 million salary, $9.0 million in bonuses
#24. Von Miller — $16.5 million
Denver Broncos: Outside linebacker
2017 salary: $16.5 million salary
#23. Desmond Trufant — $16.52 million
Atlanta Falcons: Cornerback
2017 salary: $1.5 million salary, $15.0 million signing bonus
#22. Trumaine Johnson — $16.7 million
Los Angeles Rams: Cornerback
2017 salary: $16.7 million salary
#21. Corey Davis — $17 million
Tennessee Titans: Wide Receiver
2017 salary: $465,000 salary, $16.6 million signing bonus
#20. Leonard Fournette — $18.3 million
Jacksonville Jaguars: Running Back
2017 salary: $465,000 salary, $17.9 million signing bonus
#19. Solomon Thomas — $19 million
San Francisco 49ers: Defensive End
2017 salary: $465,000 salary, $18.6 million signing bonus
#18. Mitchell Trubisky — $19.7 million
Chicago Bears: Quarterback
2017 salary: $465,000 salary, $19.3 million signing bonus
#17. Antonio Brown — $19.9 million
Pittsburgh Steelers: Wide Receiver
2017 salary: $910,000 salary, $19.0 million signing bonus
Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
#16. Ndamukong Suh — $20 million
Miami Dolphins: Defensive Tackle
2017 salary: $10.0 million salary, $10.0 million restructure bonus
#15. Xavier Rhodes — $20 million
Minnesota Vikings: Cornerback
2017 salary: $8.0 million salary, $12.0 million signing bonus
#14. Myles Garrett — $20.723 million
Cleveland Browns: Defensive End
2017 salary: $465,000 salary, $20.3 million signing bonus
#13. Nick Perry — $20.725 million
Green Bay Packers: Outside Linebacker
2017 salary: $1.3 million salary, $18.5 million signing bonus, $925,000 in other bonuses
#11.(tie) Joe Flacco — $21 million
Baltimore Ravens: Quarterback
2017 salary: $6.0 million salary, $15.0 million signing bonus
#11. (tie) Eric Berry — $21 million
Kansas City Chiefs: Free Safety
2017 salary: $900,000 salary, $20.0 million signing bonus
#10. Chandler Jones — $22 million
Arizona Cardinals: Outside Linebacker
2017 salary: $7.0 million salary, $15.0 million signing bonus
#9. Jason Pierre-Paul — $22.250 million
New York Giants: Defensive End
2017 salary: $1.3 million salary, $20.0 million signing bonus, $1.0 million in other bonuses
#8. Melvin Ingram — $22.75 million
Los Angeles Chargers: Defensive end
2017 salary: $5.0 million salary, $10.5 million signing bonus, and a $7.25 million roster bonus
#7. Stephon Gilmore — $22.9 million
New England Patriots: Cornerback
2017 salary: $4.5 million salary, $18.0 million signing bonus, and $470,000 roster bonus.
#5. (tie) Josh Norman — $24 million
Washington Redskins: Cornerback
2017 salary: $16.5 million salary, $7.0 million signing bonus, and a $500,000 roster bonus
#5. (tie) DeAndre Hopkins — $24 million
Houston Texans: Wide Receiver
2017 salary: $8.0 million salary, $7.5 million signing bonus, and $8.5 million roster bonus
#4. Derek Carr — $25.2 million
Oakland Raiders: Quarterback
2017 salary: $5.0 million salary, $12.5 million signing bonus, and $7.7 million in other bonuses
#3. Kawann Short — $26 million
Carolina Panthers: Defensive Tackle
2017 salary: $6.0 million salary, $20.0 million signing bonus
Rob Carr/Getty Images
#2. Andrew Luck — $27 million
Indianapolis Colts: Quarterback
2017 salary: $7.0 million salary, $14.0 million signing bonus, and a $6.0 million roster bonus
#1. Matthew Stafford — $51 million
Detroit Lions: Quarterback
2017 salary: $1.0 million salary, $50.0 million signing bonus
