Highest-paid player in each position heading into 2022 NFL season

Super Bowl LVI - Los Angeles Rams v Cincinnati Bengals
Super Bowl LVI - Los Angeles Rams v Cincinnati Bengals

With the 2022 NFL season now coming into focus, we can see who are the highest earners in each position in the league. Such statistics show us to what level teams are willing to pay for either past successes or future potential.

The highest-paid position still remains the quarterback, with the top five spots on the list of costliest players going to various signal-callers.

But for a look at who will earn the most total cash in the 2022 NFL season, at each position, here is a handy guide.


Quarterback - Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams, $61,500,000

Matthew Stafford leads the way among quarterbacks for the 2022 NFL season and it is well-deserved after leading the Rams to the Super Bowl last season.

Stafford earns around $61,500,000, a cut above the likes Josh Allen, Deshaun Watson, Aaron Rodgers, and Kirk Cousins, who are all in the $40-50 million bracket.


Running Back - Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys, $12,400,000

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Ezekiel Elliott has an earning of $12,400,000, which gives him a lead of $400,000 over Derrick Henry entering the 2022 NFL season. Elliott, Henry, and Alvin Kamara are the only running backs earning above $10 million.


Full Back - Patrick Ricard, Baltimore Ravens, $4,500,000

Full back is an underrated position but Patrick Ricard has managed to get his worth acknowledged. He is making $4,500,000, ahead of Kyle Juszczyk of the San Francisco 49ers at $3.775 million. Alec Ingold of the the Miami Dolphins is third with $3.5 million.


Wide Receiver - Mike Williams, Los Angeles Chargers, $28,000,000

Mike Williams earns $28 million, just beating out new Miami Dolphins buy Tyreek Hill, who will rack up $26.635 million. Stefon Diggs is third at $24.58 million.


Tight End - Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens, $19,000,000

Mark Andrews is way out in front of all the other tight ends with $19 million. This is nearly double that of George Kittle, who will earn around $12 million in the 2022 NFL season for the 49ers.

Mike Gesicki, David Njoku, and Dalton Schulz are tied for the third spot, as all of them would be earning $10.931 million in the upcoming season.


Left Tackle - David Bakhtiari, Green Bay Packers, $18,551,836

The left tackle position is well rationalized, with narrow gaps between the top earners. David Bakhtiari leads with $18,551,836, which keeps him ahead of Laremy Tunsil and Cam Robinson.


Right Tackle - Ryan Ramczyk, New Orleans Saints $19,241,608

Ryan Ramczyk is the top earner in this position with $19,241,628, followed by Brian O'Neill and Taylor Moton. These three are the only right tackles to breach the $15 million mark.


Guard - Brandon Scherff, Jacksonville Jaguars, $17,764,712

Brandon Scherff earns $17,764,712, which is nearly $3 million more than the other guards in the 2022 NFL season. All others below him are closely packed together in the $13-14 million bracket.


Center - Frank Ragnow, Detroit Lions, $20,751,529

Frank Ragnow is an outlier among centers for the 2022 NFL season. He earns $20,751,529, which is over $6 million more than Ryan Jensen in second, who, in turn, earns over $3 million more than Mitch Morse and Jason Kelce in third.


Defensive End - Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions, $23,858,372

Aidan Hutchinson beats out Kayvon Thibodeaux in the battle of the rookies with an earning of $23,858,372. Danielle Hunter of the Minnesota Vikings occupies third spot.


Defensive Tackle - Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs, $22,374,000

Chris Jones, with an income of $22,374,000, leads the way by nearly $5 million from Grady Jarrett. DeForest Buckner comes in third at $16 million.


Outside Linebacker - Travon Walker, Jacksonville Jaguars, $25,065,088

The first pick of this year's draft beats the record-holder and sack leader of last year TJ Watt, earning over $25,065,088, compared to $24 million for the latter.


Inside Linebacker - CJ Mosley, New York Jets, $16,000,000

CJ Mosley, with an earning of $16 million, leads in this position, ahead of Deion Jones and Tremaine Edmunds. These three players are the only ones in this position to earn more than $10 million in the 2022 NFL season.


Cornerback - Jaire Alexander, Green Bay Packers, $31,076,000

Jaire Alexander is the highest-paid non-quarterback on the list for the 2022 season and with an earning of $31,076,000, is the only cornerback to pocket more than $30 million. He is followed by JC Jackson and Marshon Lattimore.


Free Safety - Marcus Williams, Baltimore Ravens, $16,000,000

Marcus Williams at $16 million leads from Justin Simmons of Denver, who earns $15.1 million. Kevin Byard of Tennessee is third for the 2022 NFL season.


Strong Safety - Jamal Adams, Seattle Seahawks, $14,440,000

Jamal Adams, with $14,440,000, leads by $440,000 over fellow Seahawk Quandre Diggs. No one else is in the $14 million bracket, with John Johnson of Cleveland earning $10.75 million.


Kicker - Younghoe Koo, Atlanta Falcons, $8,000,000

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The importance of Younghoe Koo to the Atlanta Falcons can be found in the fact that he earns twice as much - $8 million - as the other kickers in the league. Robbie Gould, Jake Elliott, and Jason Myers will all earn $4 million in the 2022 NFL season.


Punter - Jake Bailey, New England Patriots, $3,986,000

Jake Bailey is ahead of Bryan Anger of Dallas and Johnny Hekker of Carolina with an income of $3,986,000. All are in the $3 million bracket.


Long Snapper - Josh Harris, Los Angeles Chargers, $1,920,000

The standard earnings for long snappers seems to be $1.2725 million, with seven players tied for that amount. Josh Harris, however, stands alone with his $1.92 million salary for the 2022 NFL season.

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Edited by Akshay Saraswat