Each AFC team's most overpaid and underpaid players 1w4227
Most deals of the 2025 NFL offseason are in the books, so it's time to look at each team's contract situation to evaluate their most overpaid and underpaid players ahead of the new season. First up is the AFC. 1t3x1h
AFC | NFC 4m4v4t
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(Salary information courtesy of Over The Cap)
Baltimore Ravens r1v7
Overpaid: Mark Andrews
AAV: $14M (TE5)
Signed 4-year, $56M deal in 2021
Once a top-three tight end, Andrews has shown signs of decline. The 29-year-old caught a career-high 11 touchdowns in 2024, but he averaged under 40 yards per game and had a costly drop in the playoffs.
Underpaid: Kyle Hamilton
AAV: $4M (SAF35)
4-year rookie deal worth $16.2M
Baltimore rosters several underpaid starters, but Hamilton stands out most. The 24-year-old has already claimed consecutive All-Pro berths while earning peanuts on his rookie contract.
Buffalo Bills 224n1c
Overpaid: Greg Rousseau
AAV: $20M (EDGE14)
Signed 4-year, $80M deal in 2025
The edge rusher market is naturally overpriced because of the position's value. Still, the Bills are betting on Rousseau's potential more than rewarding what he's already done. Although he's shown flashes of dominance, the 25-year-old has never posted more than eight sacks in a season.
Underpaid: James Cook
AAV: $1.5M (RB48)
4-year rookie deal worth $5.8M
There's a reason Cook has been vocal about receiving a lucrative extension. The fourth-year tailback has already rushed for over 1,000 yards twice and led the NFL in rushing TDs last year - all while making less than $2 million per season under his first contract.
Cincinnati Bengals 285c2j
Overpaid: Tee Higgins
AAV: $28.7M (WR9)
Signed 4-year, $115M deal in 2025
Higgins is an elite No. 2 receiver. He's topped 1,000 yards two times and caught 10 touchdowns last campaign. However, the 26-year-old is making almost $30 million annually, a hefty price for someone who's struggled to stay healthy and averages under 950 receiving yards per season.
Underpaid: Trey Hendrickson
AAV: $21M (EDGE13)
Signed 1-year, $21M extension in 2023
There's a reason Hendrickson's contract situation is such a big storyline right now. Cincinnati has been getting elite production at a premier position from a player who doesn't even rank in the top 10 for average annual salary among edge rushers. The 30-year-old leads the NFL with 35 sacks since 2023.
Cleveland Browns 4l74n
Overpaid: Deshaun Watson
AAV: $46M (QB13)
Signed 5-year, $230M deal in 2022
The Watson trade will likely go down as the worst in NFL history, and the fully guaranteed, $230-million contract Cleveland gave to the quarterback gets worse by the day. The 29-year-old isn't expected to play in 2025 after sustaining a second Achilles injury.
Underpaid: Mohamoud Diabate
AAV: $906K (LB236)
3-year rookie deal worth $2.7M
An undrafted free agent in 2023, Diabate was a nice surprise for the Browns last year. He stood out as a run defender, recording 70 tackles (five for loss) and three breakups while making under $1 million.
Denver Broncos 28c6i
Overpaid: D.J. Jones
AAV: $13M (DL22)
Signed 3-year, $39M deal in 2025
Jones' big deal came as a surprise this offseason. The ninth-year veteran is still a good player, but he received a significant pay raise despite turning 30 in January and seemingly regressing as a -rusher.
Underpaid: Bo Nix
AAV: $4.6M (QB39)
4-year rookie deal worth $18.6M
Denver rosters some defenders with excellent contract value, but it's hard not to go with Nix here. As a rookie, he ed for 33 touchdowns and led the Broncos to the playoffs despite his salary not ranking in the top 32 for QBs.
Houston Texans 1f4e10
Overpaid: Danielle Hunter
AAV: $35.6M (EDGE2)
Signed 1-year, $35.6M extension in 2025
Over The Cap projects Hunter's value to be $18 million per year, but, by recently adding $35.6 million to his contract, he'll earn $55.1 million over the next two seasons (the eighth-highest average salary among edge rushers). He had 12 sacks in his first year with Houston, but that's a lot of money for a veteran who turns 31 in October.
Underpaid: C.J. Stroud
AAV: $9M (QB29)
4-year rookie deal worth $36.3M
Any franchise quarterback on a rookie contract will be vastly underpaid, and that's the case with Stroud. With the 2023 No. 2 pick, Houston has won back-to-back AFC South titles.
Indianapolis Colts 6c2r6
Overpaid: Jonathan Taylor
AAV: $14M (RB4)
Signed 3-year, $42M deal in 2023
To be fair to Taylor here, the 26-year-old rushed for 1,431 yards and 11 touchdowns last year. However, the former All-Pro fumbled four times and continues to have minimal impact as a -catcher and blocker. Plus, he's only played one full season since entering the NFL (2021).
Underpaid: Jaylon Jones
AAV: $988K (CB256)
4-year rookie deal worth $3.9M
Jones, who recorded 100 tackles, 12 breakups, and two interceptions last season, claimed PFF's 35th-best coverage grade among eligible corners. Not bad for a 2023 seventh-round pick on a rookie deal. For his efforts, he received the second-biggest payout from the NFL performance-based pay distributions, which provide supplemental compensation based on playing time and salary levels.
Jacksonville Jaguars c2m62
Overpaid: Trevor Lawrence
AAV: $55M (QB2)
Signed 5-year, $275M deal in 2024
Jacksonville has multiple candidates for this spot, but how can you not go with Lawrence? The 2021 No. 1 pick hasn't come close to the early expectations for him in the NFL, but his deal is tied for the second-highest average salary in league history and includes $142 million fully guaranteed.
Underpaid: Brian Thomas Jr.
AAV: $3.6M (WR59)
4-year rookie deal worth $14.6M
In one season, Thomas showed that he may already be Jacksonville's best offensive player. The 22-year-old set Jaguars rookie records in 2024 with 87 catches, 10 touchdowns, and 1,282 receiving yards - the third-most in the NFL.
Kansas City Chiefs 2sk46
Overpaid: Jawaan Taylor
AAV: $20M (RT3)
Signed 4-year, $80M deal in 2023
It's pretty absurd that the only right tackles with a higher average salary than Taylor are All-Pro linemen Penei Sewell and Lane Johnson. Since the Chiefs signed Taylor to a monster deal, he's allowed 102 pressures and 12 sacks while committing over 30 penalties, according to PFF.
Underpaid: Patrick Mahomes
AAV: $45M (QB14)
Signed 10-year, $450M deal in 2020
when the Chiefs signed Mahomes to the richest contract in North American sports history? It's the NFL's best bargain, as the three-time Super Bowl MVP isn't even in the top 10 in average salary among QBs. Kansas City has Mahomes signed through the 2031 season and recently restructured the deal to pay him more in the next couple of years.
Los Angeles Chargers 483f1
Overpaid: Derwin James
AAV: $19.1M (SAF3)
Signed 4-year, $76.5M deal in 2022
James has had a top-three average salary among safeties for years. His 2024 season was good (maybe the best since his rookie year), but he's had only two interceptions since '23. Additionally, James has struggled with missed tackles and gained a reputation as a dirty player. He hasn't played a full season since 2018 due to injuries and last year's one-game suspension.
Underpaid: Rashawn Slater
AAV: $4.1M (LT21)
4-year rookie deal worth $16.6M
2025 5th-year option: $19M
Slater is entering his fifth year, which is worth significantly more than the previous seasons on his rookie deal. That said, his average salary of just over $4 million has given Los Angeles great value for a Pro Bowler whose market value is projected to be north of $20 million.
Las Vegas Raiders 4q5e5g
Overpaid: Christian Wilkins
AAV: $27.5M (DL2)
Signed 4-year, $110M deal in 2024
A year ago, the Raiders made a huge commitment to Wilkins, an underrated lineman who elevated his -rushing ability in 2023. But he's never been a Pro Bowler. A foot injury limited the 29-year-old's first season in Las Vegas to five games, and the latest on his rehab isn't encouraging.
Underpaid: Brock Bowers
AAV: $4.5M (TE31)
4-year rookie deal worth $18M
As a rookie, Bowers showed he might become the sport's highest-paid tight end in a couple of years. Until then, the Raiders can enjoy paying less than $5 million per year for a top-three TE.
Miami Dolphins 3da11
Overpaid: Tua Tagovailoa
AAV: $53.1M (QB6)
Signed 4-year, $212.4M deal in 2024
Tagovailoa has been good, not great, and that's not enough for a QB signed to one of the biggest contracts ever. The 27-year-old's accuracy makes him the right guy for Miami's system, but availability has been a major concern for him.
Underpaid: De'Von Achane
AAV: $1.3M (RB53)
4-year rookie deal worth $5.4M
One of the NFL's fastest players, Achane has become a key member of the Dolphins' offense since being drafted in Round 3 in 2023. The third-year tailback recorded 2,496 yards and 23 touchdowns from scrimmage across his first two seasons.
New England Patriots 6n5a70
Overpaid: Milton Williams
AAV: $26M (DL3)
Signed 4-year, $104M deal in 2025
Williams just had a career year and was a monster in the Super Bowl. But he now has the highest average annual salary in Patriots history despite never claiming a Pro Bowl nod. That's a lot of money for an interior lineman who played less than 50% of the defensive snaps with the Eagles.
Underpaid: Christian Gonzalez
AAV: $3.7M (CB44)
4-year rookie deal worth $15.1M
After missing most of his rookie season due to injury, Gonzalez enjoyed an excellent 2024 campaign en route to a second-team All-Pro berth. The former top-20 pick is already one of the NFL's best corners.
New York Jets 2m4x43
Overpaid: Brandon Stephens
AAV: $12M (CB23)
Signed 3-year, $36M deal in 2025
This contract doesn't look good for the Jets ahead of the new season. Last year, Stephens - New York's third-highest-paid defender - didn't an interception, allowed a 100-plus er rating in coverage, and finished as PFF's 99th-ranked corner.
Underpaid: Garrett Wilson
AAV: $5.1M (WR48)
4-year rookie deal worth $20.5M
While Jets fans have long been accustomed to disappointing QB play, Wilson's ability to reach 1,000 yards despite the team's struggles under center has become another constant. The 24-year-old, who just set career highs with 101 catches and seven touchdowns, remains on his rookie contract but is one of the sport's best young -catchers.
Pittsburgh Steelers u5a1c
Overpaid: DK Metcalf
AAV: $33M (WR4)
Signed 4-year, $132M extension in 2025
The Steelers wanted a new WR1 this offseason and handed Metcalf the largest contract in franchise history after making a blockbuster trade for him. The 27-year-old has three 1,000-yard seasons under his belt, but he isn't a top-five receiver in the NFL. Heck, he might not even be in the top 10.
Underpaid: Aaron Rodgers
AAV: $13.6M (QB22)
Signed 1-year, $13.6M deal in 2025
Rodgers' contract with Pittsburgh made him the second-lowest-paid starting QB on a non-rookie deal. The likes of Justin Fields ($20 million) and Daniel Jones ($14 million) - who also signed with new teams this year - all have higher base salaries than Rodgers. Granted, the 41-year-old hasn't performed at an elite level for three seasons. But $13 million for a four-time MVP who just ranked in the top 10 for ing yards and touchdowns a year after an Achilles injury is a great deal. His contract can reportedly be worth up to $19.5 million with incentives.
Tennessee Titans 3g546g
Overpaid: Dan Moore Jr.
AAV: $20.5M (LT7)
Signed 4-year, $82M deal in 2025
Moore's g was one of free agency's most stunning contracts. The Titans are taking a massive gamble, as Moore allowed 12 sacks last year - his worst single-season mark. The former Steeler also gave up 97 pressures over the past two campaigns, according to PFF.
Underpaid: T'Vondre Sweat
AAV: $2.4M (DL71)
4-year rookie deal worth $9.5M
In the first year of his rookie deal, Sweat showed he can be a franchise cornerstone for the Titans, who drafted him in the second round. The 23-year-old was PFF's 10th-best interior lineman against the run.