HomecolumnWhat NFL Teams Carry the Most Top 5 Salaries?

What NFL Teams Carry the Most Top 5 Salaries?

Distribution of Current Top 5 Salaries Useful in Predicting Free Agency

The NFL’s ‘silly season’ is in full swing, marked by the recent conclusion of the franchise tagging period in the offseason.

Five players, namely Justin Houston, Demaryius Thomas, Dez Bryant, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Stephen Gostkowski were granted the one-year designation, ensuring a considerable increase in their earnings, accompanied by subsequent salary cap implications for both players and their respective teams.

In a slightly different tune, Charles Clay received the transition tag, allowing the Miami Dolphins to match any offers he may receive in the open market.

This designation guarantees a noteworthy boost in compensation and carries financial implications for the team.

The focus now shifts to the upcoming free agency period, set to kick off on March 10th. Teams have a brief one-week window to engage in discussions with their coveted free agents before other franchises join the fray.

Cap health remains a prevalent topic of conversation, with ongoing speculations concerning a team’s ability to absorb the financial impact of new, substantial free-agent contracts.

While cap space is undeniably a crucial factor, it’s not the sole consideration. Equally important is the structure of top earners on the team’s roster, as well as the team’s standing within the broader NFL landscape.

 Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas received Denver's franchise tag on Monday.
Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas received Denver’s franchise tag on Monday.

In a sport where injuries and squad depth significantly influence the season’s outcome and, ultimately, who hoists the championship trophy, the peril of overly concentrating contract investments on one side of the ball or funneling resources to a select few players remains a lingering concern for astute management.

The oft-repeated refrain, “We’re just one player away from a championship,” is a sentiment that echoes but rarely holds much validity.

The idea of acquiring a marquee player via a mega-deal to catapult a team to the summit is, in reality, a rather dubious notion in the context of NFL discourse.

The game, and the season it entails, is a multifaceted endeavor that defies simplistic solutions.

However, the allure of such thinking may still ensnare some teams…

In the current landscape, it’s noteworthy that three of the five teams with the highest Top 5 salaries at the outset of the 2015 season failed to secure playoff berths (as listed below).

Ironically, the New England Patriots, one of those teams, triumphed in the Super Bowl despite these statistics.

The roster and contract dynamics in New England should serve as a stark reminder to anyone who may still doubt that the Patriots solely engage in “value” contracts – a notion bordering on urban legend.

Impressively, five of their top six Top 5 salaries are allocated to talents they nurtured through their draft.

While it holds that they rarely extend top-dollar contracts to individuals they haven’t assessed in-house, this practice is independent of their willingness to offer elite contracts in the league.

The ranking of the Top 5 salaries is poised for fluctuations in the weeks ahead. For the Patriots, the fate of Darrelle Revis hangs in the balance, as he could either stay on and maintain their league-leading six positions or opt for free agency.

Alternatively, Devin McCourty could step into the void left by Revis with a new deal, keeping the tally at six. Moreover, Revis and McCourty could stay, and New England would be peerless with seven Top 5 salaries, all without the infusion of new talent.

It’s reasonable to infer that should the defending champions engage in any free agency signings, and these additions fail to secure a Top 5 deal, they are not actively pursuing such high-value contracts from external sources.

This Top 5 list offers insights into the Cowboys’ decision-making, revealing that extending DeMarco Murray’s contract, given the substantial demands he is poised to command on the open market, would have strained their resources further.

Conversely, the recent news of the Texans parting ways with Andre Johnson is no surprise, given their financial landscape.

The Saints, grappling with a defense that ranked fifth worst in the NFL in points allowed, face the crucial question of whether their distribution of salary cap space aligns with the desired productivity.

They may have concentrated too much financial resources on the wrong individuals, and 2015 will prove to be a pivotal year for the Saints.

The Chiefs face a similar dilemma, as they have significant financial investments in skilled pass-rushers.

However, the question remains: is this the most effective strategy for building a winning roster?

While pass rush is undoubtedly crucial, it’s also a sector in the NFL where overspending is a prevalent concern.

Below are two tables illustrating the distribution of Top 5 salaries across the NFL today…

As previously mentioned, this list is bound to change with anticipated departures and certain additions. Notably absent from the table, Ndamukong Suh is poised to find an eager suitor who will secure his status as one of the highest-paid players in his position.

Additionally, new contracts for Devin McCourty, Julius Thomas, and DeMarco Murray are likely to propel them into the exclusive realm of the Top 5 earners.

Players like Randall Cobb, Jeremy Maclin, Jerry Hughes, and Jordan Cameron are expected to secure substantial deals. However, they’re unlikely to ascend into the Top 5 echelon unless a team overextends in their pursuit.

Among the teams featuring only one Top 5 salary now, they might be the most susceptible to succumbing to substantial free-agent spending on individual players.

This list includes Cleveland, Indianapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Arizona, Tampa Bay, and Tennessee.

Conversely, teams already in the Top 5, irrespective of their overall cap space, should exercise caution when contemplating more concentrated spending.

Opting to deviate from this course could be seen as rolling the dice on achieving exceptional historical success, a gamble that’s generally considered unwise.

The upcoming days and weeks are sure to witness a myriad of both astute and imprudent decisions, often obscured by the fog of public discourse and disinformation.

Some teams are positioned for greater financial flexibility, while others are not. Some may scrutinize the Patriots’ outlier approach and deduce that emulating it is an improbable feat, mainly when the new Top 5 salaries being pursued don’t stem from their developmental ranks.

Whichever path is chosen, the NFL’s “silly season” promises to live up to its name, and those who navigate the temptations with judiciousness are likely to emerge as winners in the end.

Anna
Anna
A dedicated individual currently in fourth year of pursuing a BBA degree. Love to spend my free time painting, drawing, and reading books.
RELATED ARTICLES

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular