Micah Parsons’s trade to the Green Bay Packers and subsequent extension made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
The top 10 highest-paid defensive players by average annual value and total contract value include Parsons, T.J. Watt, and Myles Garrett.
The commonly held belief is that defense wins championships.
For some of the NFL’s top defenders, they are just now starting to get paid that way.
While quarterbacks broke $50 million in terms of average annual value (AAV) years ago, defensive players are now just getting into the $40 million range and moving up the charts.
This offseason has been particularly lucrative for those eyeing new contracts. Since the end of Super Bowl 59, Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby each broke the record for the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in league history. Danielle Hunter also etched his name onto the list, checking in between those two. Then T.J. Watt managed to pass them all.
Now Micah Parsons is set to join the party amongst the NFL’s highest-paid. The Cowboys traded Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, and the star pass rusher agreed to a historic extension with his new team, a deal that makes him the new highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
It might not come with the flash or notoriety that a quarterback, running back and receiver might get, but playing defense is still honest work. And hard work at that.
In a world where rule changes have made life difficult for the defense, the best have still managed to make their presence felt and the prices will only grow from here.
Highest-paid NFL defensive players
Here’s a look at the top-10 highest-paid defensive players in terms of AAV and total contract value, according to Spotrac.
AAV
Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys: $48 million
T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers: $41 million
Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns: $40 million
Danielle Hunter, Houston Texans: $35.6 million
Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders: $35.5. million
Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers: $34 million
Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs: $31.75 million
Sauce Gardner, New York Jets: $30.1 million
Derek Stingley Jr., Houston Texans: $30 million
Josh Hines-Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars: $28.25 million
Total contract value
Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys: $188 million
Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers: $170 million
Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns: $160 million
Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs: $158.75 million
Joshua Hines-Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars: $141.25 million
Brian Burns, New York Giants: $141 million
T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers: $123 million
Sauce Gardner, New York Jets: $120.4 million
Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders: $106.5 million
Milton Williams, New England Patriots: $104 million