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One player for each NFL team set to cash in next season
Harry How/Getty Images

One player for each NFL team set to cash in next season

As the NFL salary cap grows, more and more huge contracts are handed out each offseason. The following players are set for big paydays after the 2019 season. For some, it's their first big contract, while others are set to add to their already fat wallets.

 
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Arizona Cardinals: Larry Fitzgerald, WR

Arizona Cardinals: Larry Fitzgerald, WR
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

Fitzgerald agreed to a one-year, $11 million contract this offseason, and while he didn't produce much last season, the addition of head coach Kliff Kingsbury and quarterback Kyler Murray could revitalize his stats at age 36. The question is whether Fitzgerald will want to keep playing in 2020 and beyond, but that would seem likely considering he's back for the first year of the Kingsbury/Murray era.

 
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Atlanta Falcons: Grady Jarrett, DT

Atlanta Falcons: Grady Jarrett, DT
Brett Davis / USA Today Sports Images

Atlanta signed Jarrett to a one-year deal worth more than $15 million this offseason. One of the elite defensive tackles in the league, he's likely to get a big, long-term contract after this year. The Falcons have some huge choices to make next offseason, with Jarrett, Austin Hooper, Deion Jones and Vic Beasley among their prominent unrestricted free agents.

 
3 of 32

Baltimore Ravens: Jimmy Smith, CB

Baltimore Ravens: Jimmy Smith, CB
Tommy Gilligan / USA Today Sports Images

An inconsistent cover corner, Smith still shows flashes of elite ability at age 30. He's struggled to stay on the field recently due to injuries and suspensions, which could be reason enough for the Ravens to move on after this season. Still, corners of Smith's ability are at a premium in the NFL, and he will almost certainly cash in if he has a strong 2019.

 
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Buffalo Bills: Jerry Hughes, DE

Buffalo Bills: Jerry Hughes, DE
Troy Taormina / USA Today Sports Images

One of the leaders of Buffalo's defense, Hughes is entering the final year of his contract. His play has slipped a bit from his first two seasons in Buffalo, in 2013-14, but Hughes has still been productive recently, coming off a seven-sack campaign at age 30. Still durable, Hughes should fetch a large contract again next year.

 
5 of 32

Carolina Panthers: James Bradberry, CB

Carolina Panthers: James Bradberry, CB
Bob Donnan / USA Today Sports Images

The Panthers have a lot of big decisions to make on defense next offseason, with Bradberry, Shaq Thompson and Mario Addison set to be unrestricted free agents. The difficulty finding and developing young corners probably makes Bradberry the most likely player of the trio to get an extension in Carolina. He's been a solid starter through his first three NFL seasons.

 
6 of 32

Chicago Bears: Cody Whitehair, C

Chicago Bears: Cody Whitehair, C
Kyle Terada / USA Today Sports Images

Mitch Morse set the center market with a huge four-year, $44.5 million contract with Buffalo this offseason, so Whitehair could be licking his chops. A pending unrestricted free agent, Whitehair also has the ability to play guard.

 
7 of 32

Cincinnati Bengals: A.J. Green, WR

Cincinnati Bengals: A.J. Green, WR
David Kohl / USA Today Sports Images

Cincinnati has top wideouts Green and Tyler Boyd heading into their walk years in 2019. That's not a great situation for the team, especially with former first-round pick John Ross failing to develop behind them. Green has had trouble staying healthy lately, but he's an elite talent when he's on the field and is entering his age 31 season.

 
8 of 32

Cleveland Browns: Damarious Randall, S

Cleveland Browns: Damarious Randall, S
Ken Blaze / USA Today Sports Images

Randall had a strong first season in Cleveland after three years with the Packers. The former first-round pick started 15 games last year, finishing with 85 tackles and four interceptions. He's been a takeaway machine in his four-year career with 14 picks, and Cleveland would probably love to extend the pending free agent after losing fellow starting safety Jabrill Peppers this offseason.

 
9 of 32

Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott, QB

Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott, QB
Tim Heitman / USA Today Sports Images

It seems like only a matter of time before Prescott gets a big extension from the Cowboys. He's entering the final year of his rookie contract and has established himself as a solid NFL starter. Owner Jerry Jones and Co. also have stars Amari Cooper and Byron Jones becoming unrestricted free agents next offseason.

 
10 of 32

Denver Broncos: Chris Harris, CB

Denver Broncos: Chris Harris, CB
Robert Hanashiro / USA Today Sports Images

Harris made his fourth Pro Bowl last year but has been mentioned in trade rumors this offseason. While the Broncos have worked to get younger recently, Harris continues to play at a high level and is just entering his age 30 season.

 
11 of 32

Detroit Lions: Graham Glasgow, C

Detroit Lions: Graham Glasgow, C
Kyle Terada / USA Today Sports Images

A former third-round pick, Glasgow has developed nicely into Detroit's starting center. He started all 16 games in each of the last two seasons and will be an unrestricted free agent set for a big payday next offseason.

 
12 of 32

Green Bay Packers: Mike Daniels, DT

Green Bay Packers: Mike Daniels, DT
Jim Matthews / USA Today Sports Images

Green Bay has prioritized the pass rush this offseason, so it stands to reason that they'd want to bring back Daniels after this season. The pending unrestricted free agent missed time to injuries last year, but he made the Pro Bowl in 2017 and has generally been a consistent player during his seven-year career.

 
13 of 32

Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney, OLB

Houston Texans: Jadeveon Clowney, OLB
Eric Hartline / USA Today Sports Images

Houston has a lot of tough decisions to make on defense next year, and Clowney leads the list. The Texans already franchise tagged him this offseason, with rumors of a trade still ongoing. The former first overall draft choice has had some injury issues but has at least nine sacks in each of the last two seasons.

 
14 of 32

Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Castonzo, LT

Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Castonzo, LT
Brian Spurlock / USA Today Sports Images

Castonzo missed five games to injury last year, but he's been a staple at left tackle for the Colts since he was drafted in 2011. The reality of today's NFL is that left tackles are hard to find in free agency, and they certainly get paid when their contracts come up. Castonzo will almost certainly get a mammoth contract after he plays out the final year of his current deal in 2019.

 
15 of 32

Jacksonville Jaguars: Jalen Ramsey, CB

Jacksonville Jaguars: Jalen Ramsey, CB
Jay Biggerstaff / USA Today Sports Images

Ramsey has become one of the league's top cornerbacks in his young career, and the Jaguars have already exercised his fifth-year option for 2020. While they could wait to sign Ramsey to an extension following that season, it's more likely that Ramsey and his agent will seek security from the Jags before then.

 
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Kansas City Chiefs: Chris Jones, DT

Kansas City Chiefs: Chris Jones, DT
Jay Biggerstaff / USA Today Sports Images

The Chiefs are certainly planning around an extension of reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes, who is a free agent after 2020. In the meantime Jones is their top extension candidate. The former second-round pick has emerged as an elite interior pass rusher, with 15.5 sacks last year. He will be an unrestricted free agent after 2019.

 
17 of 32

Los Angeles Chargers: Philip Rivers, QB

Los Angeles Chargers: Philip Rivers, QB
David Butler II / USA Today Sports Images

Rivers is entering his age 38 season, but there's no reason to think he won't continue to play beyond 2019 with his recent strong level of play. For franchise quarterbacks, it's usually just a matter of when and not if they are extended. Likely a future Hall of Famer, Rivers is entering the final year of his current deal.

 
18 of 32

Los Angeles Rams: Marcus Peters, CB

Los Angeles Rams: Marcus Peters, CB
Kirby Lee / USA Today Sports Images

Peters was a takeaway machine during his three seasons in K.C., but he struggled last year with the Rams due in large part due a calf injury. He's hoping to rebound this year with free agency pending in 2020 and should garner a huge contract if he's successful.

 
19 of 32

Miami Dolphins: Kenyan Drake, RB

Miami Dolphins: Kenyan Drake, RB
Rich Barnes / USA Today Sports Images

The running back market isn't great in today's NFL, with the position now seen by many teams as replaceable. Drake could be set to be Miami's bell cow back this season with Frank Gore out of the way, and it's perfect timing with free agency in 2020.

 
20 of 32

Minnesota Vikings: Trae Waynes, CB

Minnesota Vikings: Trae Waynes, CB
Noah K. Murray / USA Today Sports Images

A starting corner on one of the league's top defenses, Waynes has been productive over the last three seasons. The former first-round pick could get an opportunity to test free agency next offseason with the Vikings struggling to find cap space.

 
21 of 32

New England Patriots: Tom Brady, QB

New England Patriots: Tom Brady, QB
David Butler II / USA Today Sports Images

Brady is entering the final year of his contract in his age 42 season. While he slowed during the regular season in 2018, Brady was his usual self during the playoffs en route to his sixth Super Bowl title. Brady has said in the past that he'd like to play for several more seasons, and there's every reason to think he will get another big contract if he has a strong 2019.

 
22 of 32

New Orleans Saints: Michael Thomas, WR

New Orleans Saints: Michael Thomas, WR
Chuck Cook / USA Today Sports Images

The Saints seem to be going all in this year, which could be Drew Brees' last season. The organization probably isn't too worried about post-2019 contract decisions yet but will have many big decisions, including Thomas. He's quickly developed into one of the league's top wideouts, being named All-Pro last year after a league-leading 125 receptions, along with 1,405 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

 
23 of 32

New York Giants: Eli Manning, QB

New York Giants: Eli Manning, QB
Brad Penner / USA Today Sports Images

Manning's play in recent seasons has been sub-par, and the addition of first-round pick Daniel Jones puts him on the hot seat. Still, the Giants have shown remarkable patience with the 38-year-old quarterback, and he did have 7.5 yards per attempt last season, his best average since 2011. It would be just as expected to see Manning retire after 2019 as it would be for him to sign an extension, but Jones is a developmental prospect who isn't exactly a shoo-in to replace Manning soon.

 
24 of 32

New York Jets: Robby Anderson, WR

New York Jets: Robby Anderson, WR
Brad Penner / USA Today Sports Images

Anderson has become the Jets No. 1 wideout and is set for unrestricted free agency after this season. A prime deep threat, he had 752 yards and six scores in 14 games last year. He's expected for bigger things in Sam Darnold's second season.

 
25 of 32

Oakland Raiders: Rodney Hudson, C

Oakland Raiders: Rodney Hudson, C
Ron Chenoy / USA Today Sports Images

Hudson became one of the highest-paid centers in the league when he signed with Oakland in 2015, but he's played up to his contract with two Pro Bowl appearances in his four seasons. Set to enter free agency again next year at age 30, Hudson should get another big deal.

 
26 of 32

Philadelphia Eagles: Nelson Agholor, WR

Philadelphia Eagles: Nelson Agholor, WR
Brad Mills / USA Today Sports Images

Agholor looked like a bust early in his career, but he's developed under head coach Doug Pederson. He had more than 700 yards receiving in each of the last two seasons, and Philadelphia seems likely to let him walk after this year after drafting Stanford wideout J.J. Arcega-Whiteside.

 
27 of 32

Pittsburgh Steelers: Joe Haden, CB

Pittsburgh Steelers: Joe Haden, CB
Jeffrey Becker / USA Today Sports Images

After three straight injury-plagued seasons, Haden was able to play 15 games at a high level for Pittsburgh last season. The former Pro Bowler in Cleveland isn't quite the star he was early in his career, but he's just entering his age 30 season and should have plenty of life left as he enters free agency in 2020.

 
28 of 32

San Francisco 49ers: Joe Staley, LT

San Francisco 49ers: Joe Staley, LT
Kyle Terada / USA Today Sports Images

Staley is entering his age 35 season, which also happens to be the final year of his contract. The six-time Pro Bowler is still playing at a high level, and should be able to make a great living as long as he keeps playing. Whether that's beyond 2019 still remains to be seen.

 
29 of 32

Seattle Seahawks: Jarran Reed, DT

Seattle Seahawks: Jarran Reed, DT
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

The Seahawks were unwilling to meet Frank Clark's asking price but are unlikely to do the same with their other top defensive lineman in Reed. He had a breakout third NFL season with 10.5 sacks and 50 tackles and will be set for a big contract after 2019 when he's a free agent.

 
30 of 32

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston, QB

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston, QB
Kevin Jairaj / USA Today Sports Images

Winston is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and the Bucs hope he can finally fulfill his potential after hiring head coach Bruce Arians. The results have been inconsistent for Winston, particularly over the last two seasons, and it's difficult to see where the franchise goes from here if Winston doesn't prove deserving of a huge payday after this year.

 
31 of 32

Tennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota, QB

Tennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota, QB
Robert Deutsch / USA Today Sports Images

The Titans are entering a pivotal year for their offense, with pending free agents Mariota, Derrick Henry, Ben Jones and Jack Conklin, not to mention Logan Ryan and Kevin Byard on the defensive side of the ball. Injuries have halted Mariota's development, so he needs to prove he can stay healthy in 2019. If he does, the Titans will likely give him a big contract without a second thought.

 
32 of 32

Washington Redskins: Brandon Scherff, OG

Washington Redskins: Brandon Scherff, OG
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

Scherff played only eight games last year due to injuries, but the former fifth overall draft choice in 2015 made consecutive Pro Bowls leading up to that campaign. Washington expects a rebound year protecting rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins, and Scherff should be rewarded handsomely as a pending free agent if it happens.

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.

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