Which NFL Team Has the Highest Payroll?
Contents
The NFL team with the highest payroll in 2020 is the Seattle Seahawks.
The Highest Paid NFL Teams
The New England Patriots
The New England Patriots have the highest payroll in the NFL, with a total of $172 million in player salaries for the 2019 season. This is significantly higher than the league average of $141 million, and reflects the team’s commitment to winning. The Patriots have won six Super Bowls since 2001, and they are widely considered to be one of the best teams in NFL history.
The Patriots’ high payroll is due in large part to their star quarterback, Tom Brady, who is set to earn $15 million this season. Brady is one of the most successful quarterbacks of all time, and his salary reflects his status as a true NFL legend. The Patriots also have several other star players who are among the highest-paid at their respective positions, including wide receiver Julian Edelman ($9 million), defensive end Trey Flowers ($9 million), and linebacker Dont’a Hightower ($8.5 million).
While the Patriots have the highest payroll in the NFL, it should be noted that money does not always guarantee success. The team with the second-highest payroll in 2019 is the Cleveland Browns, who are widely considered to be one of the worst teams in the league. The Browns have a payroll of $154 million this season, but they are currently winless through 11 games.
The Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams have the highest payroll in the NFL, with a total of $252.3 million in salaries for the 2019 season. The team’s offensive salaries are led by quarterback Jared Goff, who is set to make $33.5 million this year. Other top-paid offensive players include running back Todd Gurley ($14.375 million) and wide receiver Brandin Cooks ($16.2 million). On defense, the Rams’ highest-paid player is defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who will earn $22.5 million in 2019.
The Pittsburgh Steelers
Despite having one of the smaller Stadiums in the NFL, The Pittsburgh Steelers top the list for highest payroll in 2020. A total of $176,874,650 is dedicated to player salaries this year – an increase of about $4 million from 2019. The Steelers have six players that take up $10 million or more of the salary cap, with Ben Roethlisberger leading the pack at $33.3 million. Stephon Tuitt, Joe Haden, and David DeCastro are some of the other big names on defense, while JuJu Smith-Schuster is one of the highest-paid wide receivers in the league.
The Lowest Paid NFL Teams
The NFL has a salary cap in place that affects how much each team can spend on their players. As of 2019, the salary cap is set at $188.2 million. The Miami Dolphins have the lowest payroll in the NFL, spending around $177 million on their players.
The Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills have the lowest payroll in the NFL, according to Spotrac. As of September 2017, the Bills’ payroll is $156,155,878. The team’s average salary is $2,961,059.
The Bills are followed by the Miami Dolphins ($163 million), the Cincinnati Bengals ($164 million), and the Arizona Cardinals ($165 million).
The lowest-paid player on the Bills is running back Taiwan Jones, who has a base salary of $690,000. The highest-paid player on the team is defensive end Jerry Hughes, who has a base salary of $10 million.
The Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins have the lowest paid team in the NFL, with an average player salary of just $2.7 million. That’s less than half of what the average NFL player makes ($4.9 million), and it’s also less than what the average MLB player makes ($4.4 million) and the average NBA player makes ($7.7 million).
The Dolphins’ low payroll is due in part to their recent struggles on the field. They haven’t had a winning season since 2016, and they’ve missed the playoffs in each of the last three years. As a result, they don’t have many high-priced players on their roster. Their highest-paid player is defensive end Charles Harris, who is making $3.2 million this season.
The Dolphins are also one of the youngest teams in the NFL, with an average age of just 26 years old. Their roster includes several rookies and second-year players who are still on their rookie contracts, which are typically much cheaper than veteran contracts.
Despite their low payroll, the Dolphins have been competitive in recent years thanks to shrewd moves by their front office. They’ve acquired several talented players via trade or free agency, including linebacker Kiko Alonso, defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, and wide receiver Albert Wilson. With a few more additions, they could be a playoff team again in 2019.
The New York Jets
Despite having the lowest payroll in the NFL, the New York Jets have managed to be competitive in recent years. In fact, they made it to the AFC Championship game in 2010 and have had winning seasons in six of the last seven years.
The Jets’ success is due in part to their ability to find diamonds in the rough – players who may not have been the most highly-regarded prospects coming out of college but who have developed into quality NFL players. Another factor has been their willingness to spend money on top talent when they feel it is necessary, as they did this offseason when they signed free agent running back Le’Veon Bell to a four-year, $52 million contract.
With a new head coach and general manager in place, it will be interesting to see if the Jets’ philosophy on team-building changes in the coming years. For now, though, they are content to try and win with a less expensive roster than most of their rivals.
