Yardbarker
x
Most overpaid NFL player at every position
Troy Taormina/USA Today Sports Images

Most overpaid NFL player at every position

As huge contracts continue to be handed out in the NFL, inevitably some players become grossly overpaid. The following slideshow features the most overpaid NFL player at every position. Posted salaries are team cap hits, according to Spotrac.com.

 

 

 
1 of 23

Quarterback: Brock Osweiler, Browns

Quarterback: Brock Osweiler, Browns
Ken Blaze/USA Today Sports Images

After Osweiler's awful 2016 season in Houston, the Texans sent Cleveland a second-round pick to take his contract. The lanky quarterback will count $16 million against the cap this season, 17th most at his position, and might not win a starting job.

 
2 of 23

Running Back: Chris Ivory, Jaguars

Running Back: Chris Ivory, Jaguars
Timothy T. Ludwig/USA Today Sports Images

Ivory signed a lucrative deal with Jacksonville last season, only to rush for 439 yards, just 3.8 yards per carry. His cap hit is near $6 million this season, ranking fifth among all running backs, and he could enter the year as the team's third runner after the Jags drafted Leonard Fournette.

 
3 of 23

Fullback: Kyle Juszczyk, 49ers

Fullback: Kyle Juszczyk, 49ers
Stan Szeto/USA Today Sports Images

A Harvard educated player, Juszczyk did well for himself by signing with San Francisco in the offseason. He now has a $3,750,000 cap hit, which is $1.5 million greater than anyone else at his position. While that should help Juszczyk pay off his student loans, it seems like San Francisco overpaid for a position that's going out of style.

 
4 of 23

Wide Receiver: Tavon Austin, Rams

Wide Receiver: Tavon Austin, Rams
Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports Images

Austin signed a ludicrous four-year, $42 million extension before last season, and his cap hit this year is near $15 million, third highest in football. He had a career-high 58 receptions for 509 yards last season and could be phased out of new head coach Sean McVay's offense.

 
5 of 23

Wide Receiver: Randall Cobb, Packers

Wide Receiver: Randall Cobb, Packers
Jeff Hanisch/USA Today Sports Images

Cobb peaked in 2014 with a Pro Bowl appearance, but his production has declined over the last two years. Last season he had only 60 receptions for 610 yards, and fell to third among Packers wideouts. Cobb's cap hit above $12.6 million is seventh highest at his position.

 
6 of 23

Tight End: Charles Clay, Bills

Tight End: Charles Clay, Bills
David Kohl/USA Today Sports Images

Clay has been a consistent contributor since signing with Buffalo in 2015 but far from elite. He had 57 receptions for 552 yards and four scores last season, yet his $9 million cap hit is fourth highest among all tight ends.

 
7 of 23

Left Tackle: Anthony Castonzo, Colts

Left Tackle: Anthony Castonzo, Colts
Aaron Doster/USA Today Sports Images

Castonzo has the tall task of protecting Andrew Luck's blindside. His $12.8 million cap hit is third highest among left tackles, but Castonzo has never made a Pro Bowl and has generally graded in the middle of the pack at his position.

 
8 of 23

Right Tackle: Jeremy Parnell, Jaguars

Right Tackle: Jeremy Parnell, Jaguars
David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Parnell has protected the right side of one the game's worst offensive lines, and garners a $6.5 million cap hit this year, fifth highest among right tackles.

 
9 of 23

Guard: Joel Bitonio, Browns

Guard: Joel Bitonio, Browns
Scott Galvin/USA Today Sports Images

Bitonio has the second greatest cap hit among guards at more than $12 million, while the Browns offensive line allowed a staggered 66 sacks last season and struggled running to his side.

 
10 of 23

Guard: Luke Joeckel, Seahawks

Guard: Luke Joeckel, Seahawks
Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports Images

Drafted second overall as a tackle in 2013 by the Jaguars, Joeckel's ineffectiveness has forced him to guard. He played only four games last season but is set to count more than $7 million against the cap this year, 12th most among guards.

 
11 of 23

Center: Maurkice Pouncey, Steelers

Center: Maurkice Pouncey, Steelers
Aaron Doster/USA Today Sports Images

There's no doubt that Pouncey is an elite center, making the Pro Bowl in five of his six NFL seasons. However, the Steelers are really paying up for his services. Pouncey will count more than $11 million against the cap this year, $2 million more than Alex Mack.

 
12 of 23

Defensive End: Ezekiel Ansah, Lions

Defensive End: Ezekiel Ansah, Lions
Raj Mehta/USA Today Sports Images

Ansah looked like he was worth the money before last season, but the pass rusher had only two sacks due to nagging injuries in 2016. With a cap hit of nearly $13 million, the Lions can't afford for Ansah to continue struggling. He's the fourth most expensive player at defensive end.

 
13 of 23

Defensive End: Dante Fowler Jr., Jaguars

Defensive End: Dante Fowler Jr., Jaguars
Logan Bowles/USA Today Sports Images

The third overall pick in 2015, Fowler missed his rookie season with a knee injury and had only four sacks last season. Off-field issues further discourage the Jags, and Fowler is the 20th biggest cap hit among all defensive ends at more than $6.4 million.

 
14 of 23

Defensive Tackle: Marcell Dareus, Bills

Defensive Tackle: Marcell Dareus, Bills
Kevin Hoffman/USA Today Sports Images

Dareus is the second biggest cap hit among all defensive tackles at $16.4 million, only trailing Ndamukong Suh. He struggled in Rex Ryan's defense over the last two seasons. Dareus also missed four games due to suspension last season and and missed significant time to injury.

 
15 of 23

Outside Linebacker: Robert Quinn, Rams

Outside Linebacker: Robert Quinn, Rams
Jayne-Kamin Oncea/USA Today Sports Images

Quinn was an elite pass rusher when he signed an extension with the Rams, but he hasn't been able to stay on the field over the last two seasons, playing a total of 17 games with nine sacks. His cap hit greater than $10.7 million ranks seventh highest among all outside linebackers.

 
16 of 23

Outside Linebacker: Tamba Hali, Chiefs

Outside Linebacker: Tamba Hali, Chiefs
Troy Taormina / USA Today Sports Images

A veteran Chief with 89.5 sacks for his career, Hali started only two games last season and finished the year with 3.5 sacks. His cap hit above $8.5 million ranks 11th among all outside linebackers.

 
17 of 23

Inside Linebacker: Brian Cushing, Texans

Inside Linebacker: Brian Cushing, Texans
Troy Taormina/USA Today Sports Images

The oft-injured Cushing's play really leveled off last season, finishing the year with just 65 tackles in 13 games. Despite a $9.3 million cap hit, fourth most among all inside linebackers, he's a candidate to be cut following training camp.

 
18 of 23

Cornerback: Joe Haden, Browns

Cornerback: Joe Haden, Browns
Scott Galvin/USA Today Sports Images

An elite cornerback early in his career, Haden has had trouble staying on the field and remaining effective over the last two seasons due to concussion and groin issues. Still, he has the fourth highest cap hit among corners at $14.4 million.

 
19 of 23

Cornerback: Sean Smith, Raiders

Cornerback: Sean Smith, Raiders
Jake Roth/USA Today Sports Images

Smith signed a huge deal with Oakland last season, but the Raiders secondary struggled for much of the year. He finished with 40 tackles and two picks, and seems very overpaid with a $9.5 million cap hit, 13th highest among all cornerbacks.

 
20 of 23

Safety: Tashaun Gipson, Jaguars

Safety: Tashaun Gipson, Jaguars
Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports Images

Coming over from Cleveland, Gipson sturggled in his first season with the Jaguars. The free safety had just 41 tackles, one interception, and two passes defensed. He will count $6.3 million against the cap this year, ninth highest at free safety.

 
21 of 23

Kicker: Sebastian Janikowski, Raiders

Kicker: Sebastian Janikowski, Raiders
Jake Roth/USA Today Sports Images

Janikowski hasn't exactly been an elite kicker recently, but he's being paid like it. He made just 83 percent of his field goals last season and 81 percent in 2015, but his $4.4 million cap hit is second most at the position.

 
22 of 23

Punter: Brett Kern, Titans

Punter: Brett Kern, Titans
Orlando Jorge Ramirez/USA Today Sports Images

Kern has been a good directional kicker for the Titans, but his 38.6 net punting average was fourth worst in the NFL last season. His $3.3 million cap hit is fourth highest among all punters, however.

 
23 of 23

Long Snapper: Charley Hughlett, Browns

Long Snapper: Charley Hughlett, Browns
Scott Galvin/USA Today Sports Images

Hughlett has the largest cap hit among all long snappers at more than $1.4 million, so he's the most overpaid player at replaceable position, by default.

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

+

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.