Where do the highest paid Buffalo Bills rank compared to the rest of the NFL?

The Buffalo Bills haven’t signed a market-defining contract in at least a few years, so their veterans are ahead of the rest of the NFL. With one of those high-end contracts being traded this offseason and new contracts all over the quarterback and wide receiver market, in particular, it’s time to look at where the Bills rank.

Just a note before we begin: I use average salary simply because it’s the best metric I can sort through. I’d prefer to use “2024 cash” because it’s much more accurate, but I can’t find one of these tables and don’t want to spend hours building it one player at a time.

Strategist
1. Joe Burrow ($55 million)
10. Josh Allen ($43 million)

I said it when Allen signed his contract and I will continue to say it: Allen signed a long contract that would quickly underpay him. Allen has been passed by Jared Goff and Kirk Cousins ​​this offseason and deals are imminent for Dak Prescott, Trevor Lawrence, Tua Tagovailoa and Jordan Love that will slide Allen up to 14th, potentially by the start of the season 2024!

To come back
1. Christian McCaffrey ($19 million)
47. James Cook ($1.5 million)

The Bills don’t have any players at the running back position with lucrative contracts. Cook’s placement on the roster is because he was a second-round pick. The rest of Buffalo’s backs are on (less) rookie contracts or vet minimum contracts. By the way, Devin Singletary is 14th with $5.5 million with the Giants.

Wide receiver
1. Justin Jefferson ($35 million)
37. Curtis Samuel ($8 million)

Samuel was Buffalo’s marquee free agent signing this offseason, but he doesn’t even land top 32 contracts in the NFL. It will also likely be lower down the list soon. Stefon Diggs is currently 15th at $22.5 million, but he was tied for 10th on his contract with Buffalo at $24 million per season.

Tight end
1. Travis Kelce ($17.1 million)
13. Dawson Knox ($9.8 million)

Knox is supposed to be higher on this list. In 2024, he signed a brand new contract that ended his four-year, $52 million contract starting in 2022, which paid him $13 million per season. This average would have placed him in the top 10.

Offensive tackle
1. Penei Sewell ($28 million)
7. Dion Dawkins ($20.02 million)

After signing a new contract this offseason, Dawkins moved into the top 10. His old contract averaged $14.6 million per season, which would have placed him 25th. Sewell’s deal this offseason allowed him to pass Houston’s Laremy Tunsil for the top spot.

Interior offensive line
1. Landon Dickerson ($21 million)
31. Connor McGovern ($7.45 million)

McGovern is among the highest-paid centers in the league, but when you add in the guards, he falls a bit lower. Old friend Mitch Morse makes $5.25 million per year, but if Buffalo hadn’t cut him, he was playing on a contract averaging $9.75 million.

Edge rusher
1. Nick Bosa ($34 million)
14. Von Miller ($20 million)

Bosa blows everyone away, as second on the list is at $28.25 million (Jags Josh Allen). A much more accurate number for Miller would be $14.5 million, as that is the three-year average and doesn’t include the inflated $30 million figure in 2027 that they added just to increase the average. At $14.5 million, he would be 22nd in the NFL.

Defensive tackle
1. Chris Jones ($31.75 million)
15. Ed Oliver ($17 million)

Jones (and a bunch of other tackles) reset the market by a considerable margin this offseason. At the end of 2023, Quinnen Williams and his annual salary of $24 million were the best in the NFL. Today, five players have an equal or higher average. When Oliver signed his contract a year ago, he was in the top 10. Brandon Beane beat the market.

Linebacker
1. Roquan Smith ($20 million)
4. Matt Milan ($14.2 million)

Old friend Tremaine Edmunds is worth $18 million, but Milano is still in the top four after his contract extension in 2023. Nicholas Morrow ($1.5 million) is the only other Bills linebacker not benefiting from a minimum or rookie contract.

Cornerback
1. Jaire Alexander ($21 million)
16. Taron Johnson ($10.25 million)

Johnson is a cornerback, but still fills the top 16 spots on the roster. It’s worth noting that Tre’Davious White’s contract averaged $17.25 million, which would be ninth in the NFL. When White signed the deal, it was the biggest in the league.

Cornerback
1. Antoine Winfield Jr. ($21 million)
38. Taylor Rapp (3.5 million)

Winfield’s father played for the Bills in the ’90s and the younger Winfield signed a record contract this offseason. Jordan Poyer signed with the Dolphins for $2 million (58th), but was set to play on a contract averaging $6.25 million (23rd) if he stayed in Buffalo. Rapp isn’t even guaranteed to be the starter this year, and Mike Edwards ($2.8 million) is right on his heels financially.

Kicker
1. Jake Elliott ($6 million)
7. Tyler Bass ($5.1 million)

Bass is ahead of kickers who have had better years than him. His compensation is locked in for 2024, but another down year and Buffalo could move on.

Bettor
1. Michael Dickson ($3.675 million)
15. Sam Martin ($2 million)

Buffalo just released Matt Haack, who had a minimum salary of $1.125 million. If Matt Araiza was still on the Bills, he would make less than $1 million.

Long snapper
1. Luke Rhodes ($1.6 million)
17. Reid Ferguson ($1.33 million)

If you look at Spotrac it says Ferguson earns on average $1.15 million and ranks 27th. Which give!? In 2023, Ferguson was released during roster cuts and re-signed a day later in order to bring another player onto in-season injured reserve. His four-year total on the initial contract averages $1.33 million. Probably the number that bothers Reid the most is that his brother, Blake, earns an average of $1.35 million and is 15th.