Contract negotiations can be a fickle beast for all parties involved. In fact, most deals usually end with both sides feeling like they were slighted. That’s just par for the course. However, NFL front offices occasionally come away with a much better deal when it’s all said and done, as a domino effect takes place whenever a new deal is announced. Some of those instances have created some massively underpaid players (compared to the rest of the saturated market) across the league.
At the same time, players selected in the NFL Draft are all signed to a four-year contract (unless they play for the Bengals, apparently) where they are compensated based on their draft position. That also creates some massively underpaid players. Now, for the sake of this list, I am prioritizing players who are on their second contract or later over a young buck outplaying their draft position. Team-friendly deals are difficult to come by in today’s NFL, and front offices should be applauded for them.
So, which players on every team need new agents? And which players are due for a massive pay raise within a year or two?
Arizona Cardinals – Calais Campbell
Calais Campbell has been getting after it for a looooong time. He is one of only three active players from the 2008 draft class. The fact that he’s been a full-time starter since his sophomore season makes the accomplishment even more impressive. The 38-year-old might be in the twilight of his career (and he could be looking to close up shop where it all started after this year), but he proved that he can play at a high level last year. He started every game for the Dolphins and finished the year with 6.5 sacks. The veteran is well worth the price of admission for a one-year, $5.5 million deal.
Atlanta Falcons – Drake London
Drake London is due for a pretty hefty pay raise next year, as the Falcons accepted his fifth-year option that will pay him $16.8 million. However, he is only slated to make $6.8 million this season. That’s obviously much less than a player of his caliber would be making if he weren’t on his rookie deal. He will probably sign a contract that pays him somewhere around $25 million per year if he repeats last year’s performance.
Baltimore Ravens – Kyle Hamilton
This was a tough one. The Ravens have a loaded roster with a handful of great players on their rookie deals. I think Kyle Hamilton, who is locked in for $5.1 million this year, stands out as the most underpaid based on his overall body of work, though. You could make a strong argument that he’s the NFL’s best safety. Like London, the Ravens also picked up Hamilton’s fifth-year option. He will make $18.6 million next year, but he’s also a safe bet to clear that mark by a substantial margin. He will probably reset the safety market when he puts pen to paper.
Buffalo Bills – Terrel Bernard
I think James Cook probably would think I should give James Cook love here. However, I’m a man of my word. Terrel Bernard is a MASSIVE value, and he’s no longer tethered to his rookie deal. Bernard has grown into his role in the middle of Buffalo’s defense and has become their leader on that side of the ball. He is the perfect modern-day linebacker. Speed, coverage ability, and he’s not afraid to lay the lumber. The Bills have one of the smartest front offices in the league. They routinely sign their players early to avoid the domino effect, and Bernard is no exception. $42.1 million over four years is an absolute steal.
Carolina Panthers – Chuba Hubbard
I don’t think anyone, including those in the Panthers front office, expected Chuba Hubbard to have the season he did last year. After all, I find it hard to believe they would’ve drafted Jonathan Brooks high in the second round if they did. Nearly 1200 yards on the ground, 4.8 yards-per-attempt, and 10 TDs later, he made them look silly for not believing in him. He’s locked in at a relatively inexpensive $8.3 million APY over the next four years, too. That will be a massive value if he can repeat the performance.
Chicago Bears – Jaylon Johnson
Remember when I mentioned that contract extensions cause a league-wide domino effect? The Bears signed Jaylon Johnson to a four-year, $76 million contract in March 2024. L’Jarius Sneed inked a new deal that exceeded Johnson’s by $100k a month later. Tyson Campbell then topped his deal by $25k two months later. As it stands today, Johnson is currently the league’s thirteenth-highest-paid cover man. That’s highway robbery for a top-five-to-seven corner. On top of being the Bears’ most team-friendly deal, Johnson’s contract is probably the best value among all cover men.
Cincinnati Bengals – Chase Brown
Even if his credit score is impeccable, Chase Brown is the first player on this list who probably wouldn’t be approved for an unlimited mortgage balance. The 2023 fifth-round selection’s rookie contract pays him just over $1 million per season. It’s safe to say he drastically outperformed his draft position (and, more importantly for this list, pay grade) last year. He will be in line for a hefty pay raise if he has another season with 1350 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns.
Cleveland Browns – Teven Jenkins
I truly can’t make sense of this one. I’ve seen every snap of Teven Jenkins’ NFL career. I was shocked that he joined a team with two long-term starting options on the interior. I was shocked that a one-year deal worth just north of $3 million was the best offer he received on the open market. When healthy, Jenkins is a rock-solid starter on the interior. He’s an old-school road-grader. I have to imagine that injury concerns played a role in the lack of interest (which is absolutely valid), but wow, Cleveland is getting a good player at an incredible value if he can stay out of the medical tent.
Dallas Cowboys – Micah Parsons
Micah Parsons is one of the league’s premier defensive players, and he plays the most valuable position on that side of the ball. The combination of those factors means he’s about to get PAID. The 2021 first-round selection is set to make just over $24 million in his fifth-year option season. He is probably going to be the highest-paid defensive player in the league when Jerry Jones finally breaks out his checkbook.
Denver Broncos – JK Dobbins
Bo Nix is the obvious choice here, but I’m sticking with the theme of avoiding rookie deals whenever possible. The Broncos made that one pretty easy after signing JK Dobbins to a one-year, $2.7 million contract last month. It’s easy to forget that the 2020 second-round selection is still only 26. I don’t think he will ever get a long-term commitment considering his injury history, but he’s always been a beast when healthy. He will make a few squads look silly for not taking a flyer on him.
Detroit Lions – Alex Anzalone
Alex Anzalone went from being a replacement-level starter in New Orleans to immediately becoming a defensive leader in Detroit. When you consider the fact that he fits Dan Campbell’s kneecap biting mantra to a tee, that really isn’t all that surprising. It was a bit surprising to see him return on a modest three-year, $18.3 million deal coming off a career-best 2023 season, though. He went on to have an even better year the next season with 129 tackles and three sacks. He may now be on the wrong side of 30, but I’d be surprised if he doesn’t resign on another team-friendly deal as he enters a contract year.
Green Bay Packers – Josh Jacobs
It was tough to narrow down the best contract for Green Bay. I almost went with Tucker Kraft (who is very good) here, but I think Josh Jacobs is the better choice. The 27-year-old was the engine of Green Bay’s offense last year, and he’s a safe bet to have a similar impact in 2025. He may be the sixth-highest-paid back in the league, but $12 million Average Per Year (APY) is well worth the price of admission for his services. He belongs in the Jonathan Taylor and Derrick Henry tier of $14-15 million APY.
Houston Texans – Nico Collins
The Texans were very smart to resign Nico Collins when they did. They signed him to a three-year, $72.75 million deal last offseason. His $24.25 APY ranks 13th amongst receivers, and he’s no worse than the league’s seventh-best. That’s a value of roughly $6 million per year. There’s no way around it.. that’s an incredible deal. One of the most team-friendly contracts in the league.
Indianapolis Colts – Bernhard Raimann
Bernhard Raimann has steadily improved in each of his first three seasons. He might not get the accolades, but he has quietly developed into one of the league’s best young left tackles. He is set to make just over $1.3 million in the final year of his rookie deal and will probably be looking at a raise north of $20 million next season. It feels safe to say his upcoming deal was a factor in the Colts letting both Ryan Kelly and Will Fries walk this offseason.
Jacksonville Jaguars – Brian Thomas Jr.
This feels like cheating. I know Brian Thomas Jr. only has one season under his belt. However, I also recognize just how impactful he was last year. I’m also unable to find a player more deserving of the honor of being “underpaid” on the Jaguars. They’ve got some pretty rough contracts across the board. Brian Thomas Jr. is under contract for roughly $3.6 million per year through the 2027 season, though. That’s very cheap for one of the league’s most dynamic pass-catchers.
Kansas City Chiefs – Patrick Mahomes
Somehow, the best player in the NFL is one of the most underpaid players in the entire league. Patrick Mahomes became the highest-paid player in the history of professional sports when he put pen to paper on the 10-year, $450 million contract in the 2020 offseason. However, considering how long the deal was, I knew it wouldn’t be long before he became criminally underpaid. We reached that point long ago, as he is now tied for 14th amongst signal-callers. Absolutely wild. He will probably have four more Super Bowl rings and be unanimously considered the GOAT when the deal is in the books.
Las Vegas Raiders – Jakobi Meyers
I almost went with Brock Bowers here. He is certainly deserving of the recognition, but I try to shy away from rookie contracts when there is a clear choice for a player being underpaid on their second deal or later. Jakobi Meyers certainly fits that billing here. He is entering the final year of a three-year, $33 million contract and is coming off his best season to date. The 28-year-old will be due for a healthy pay raise if he can eclipse the century mark in back-to-back seasons.
Los Angeles Chargers – Rashawn Slater
I couldn’t go with anyone other than Rashawn Slater here. He’s one of the best young linemen in the game, and it’s only a matter of time before he gets paid like it. The 26-year-old already has two Pro Bowls under his belt as he enters the final year of his rookie deal. It’s safe to say he won’t be making $4.1 million much longer.
Los Angeles Rams – Puka Nacua
Kyren Williams deserves recognition here. So does every starter on their defensive line. It’s honestly pretty wild that team “F*ck them picks” has been so great at drafting in recent years. Still, their most underpaid player is undoubtedly Puka Nacua. The 2023 fifth-round selection is in the third year of his rookie deal that pays him just over $1 million per season. That’s a ridiculous value for one of the league’s most talented pass-catchers. He will probably receive a $30 million per-season pay raise when he finally puts pen to paper.
Miami Dolphins – De’Von Achane
De’Von Achane quietly put up over 1500 yards from scrimmage and scored 12 touchdowns last year. It was probably quiet because he loudly put up 1000 yards and 11 touchdowns in only 11 games during his electric rookie season. Regardless, the 2023 third-round selection is off to an incredible start to his career. He is a dynamic dual-threat playmaker who will make much more than $1.3 million per year once he signs his second contract.
Minnesota Vikings – Jonathan Greenard
I’m a Bears fan. I desperately wanted Chicago to break the bank on Jonathan Greenard last offseason, and I was disappointed after Minnesota landed him for a four-year, $76 million deal. I was surprised the Texans let him hit the open market after he set a career high in sacks (12.5) and pressures (53) in 2023. He took his game to another level in his first season with the Vikings, too. The 28-year-old again had 12 sacks and finished third in the league with 84 pressures. Not too shabby for the league’s fourteenth-highest-paid edge rusher.
New England Patriots – Christian Gonzalez
I thought about going with Morgan Moses here, as $8 million over the next three years is solid value for a starting-caliber offensive tackle. However, Christian Gonzalez is just too obvious of a choice here as one of the league’s budding young stars. The 23-year-old is entering his third season and has already developed into one of the league’s best cover men. He will only be $4.1 and $4.8 million in the final two years of his rookie deal. He is due for a HEFTY chunk of change from there.
New Orleans Saints – Erik McCoy
Chris Olave was a worthy candidate here, as he is a dynamic playmaker who is due for a big contract extension if he can stay healthy this year. However, Erik McCoy is more than deserving of the honor as one of the league’s premier centers. Despite the turmoil the team went through (after a surprisingly potent start to the year), he was a stabilizing force in the middle of New Orleans’ offensive line. His $12 million APY ranks fifth at the position, but he shouldn’t be making $5 million less per year than Cam Jurgens or $500k less per year than… Lloyd Cushenberry.
New York Giants – Dexter Lawrence II
You could make a strong case that Dexter Lawrence II is the league’s second-best defensive tackle behind Chris Jones. His agent definitely made that case when he put pen to paper on a four-year, $90 million deal in the 2023 offseason. His deal was tied for the top spot amongst DTs at that time. However, it has since been passed nine times over. They effectively made him one of the most underpaid players in the entire league in the process.
New York Jets – Breece Hall
This one was a lot easier three days ago before Sauce Gardner broke the bank. It was a bit more difficult one week ago before both Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson broke the bank. It feels fair to wonder whether there will be enough dough to lock in their fellow 2022 draft pick Breece Hall, who will be paid just over $4 million in the final year of his rookie deal. Hall is due for a major bounce-back season (especially with defenses keying in on Justin Fields’ legs), and I think he is going to get PAID next offseason. With that said, I honestly don’t know if the Jets will be the team that pays him.
Philadelphia Eagles – Cooper DeJean
I had a lot of options on this one, as the Eagles’ defense is full of overperformers who are still on their rookie contracts. In the end, I went with Cooper DeJean because his contract is dirt cheap with just over $2.1 million APY (less than half of Jalen Carter’s and $1.6 million less than Quinyon Mitchell’s). Cooper is a vital cog in the slot for Philadelphia’s defense, and he has already become one of the league’s best nickel corners. He never should’ve fallen to the second round.
Pittsburgh Steelers – Zach Frazier
The original plan was to go with TJ Watt here, but that idea became null and void a few hours ago when they signed him to a three-year, $123 million deal. It became a lot more difficult to narrow down their most underpaid players with Watt locked in, but I decided to give Zach Frazier some love after a great rookie season. The 2024 second-round selection is set to make just over $1.7 million this year. Not bad for someone who already looks like one of the best centers in the game.
San Francisco 49ers – Jauan Jennings
Jauan Jennings is criminally underpaid, and he knows it. The 28-year-old will make just over $4.25 million in the final year of the two-year, $15.39 million deal he signed last offseason, and reports recently surfaced that he is willing to demand a trade if they don’t work on an extension before the season. Jennings is coming off a year in which he doubled his career yardage (975 last year after having 963 yards in the previous three years combined) despite playing only 15 games. It’s hard to blame him for being upset with his current deal, but San Francisco is in a precarious cap situation. This one could get ugly.
Seattle Seahawks – Jaxon Smith-Njigba
This was a relatively easy one. Jaxon Smith-Njigba has already established himself as one of the league’s best slot receivers. He is coming off a 100-catch, 1,130-yard season and will probably receive an even bigger piece of the pie without DK Metcalf on the other side of him. It’s safe to say he will be making a lot more than $3.6 million per season when he signs his second contract.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Baker Mayfield
Another easy one. Besides Patrick Mahomes, Baker Mayfield is by far the most underpaid quarterback in the league. His $33.33 million APY ranks 19th at the position. That’s pretty wild for a guy who threw 41 touchdowns last year and is coming off two straight Pro Bowl appearances. He’s squarely in the top 10 signal-caller conversation. It feels safe to say he will break the $50 million club if he puts up another elite season.
Tennessee Titans – Kevin Zeitler
Trying to find the Titans’ best contract wasn’t an easy task. Between a lackluster group of young talent and having to overpay for players on the open market, they don’t have a lot of quality deals on the books. However, their decision to sign Kevin Zeitler to a one-year, $9 million contract this offseason was a shrewd move. He may be 35 years old, but he is only two years removed from (somehow) the only Pro Bowl of his career and played at a similarly high level with Detroit last year. He will solidify the right guard spot for Tennessee.
Washington Commanders – Frankie Luvu
I could’ve taken the low-hanging fruit and gone with Jayden Daniels here, but that was too easy. Everyone knows a talented QB on their rookie deal is making a lot less than they should be. They landed one of the biggest steals of last offseason when they signed Frankie Luvu to a three-year, $31 million deal, though. The playmaking off-the-ball ‘backer proceeded to have his best season to date in his first year in D.C., too. Well worth the price of admission.
If you enjoyed this article please follow us here on MSN! Thank you for reading and have a great day!
