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NFL

Each NFL team's most overpaid player for 2017

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  • Arizona Cardinals: QB Carson Palmer

    2017 base salary: $15.5 million
    2017 salary cap hit: $24.13 million

    If NFL history has proven one thing about quarterbacks, it's that unless your name is Tom Brady, you're going to get worse as you get older, and that's exactly what we saw from Palmer in 2016. Palmer had his worst season since joining the Cardinals in 2013, and it's hard to think things will get any better this year with Palmer set to turn 38 before the 2017 season ends. Palmer's $24.13 million cap hit will be the second highest in the NFL this year, behind only Joe Flacco. 

    Credit: USATSI

  • Atlanta Falcons: DE Brooks Reed

    2017 base salary: $4.1 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $5.04 million

    One of the surest signs that a team might be trying to get rid of you is when they draft someone in the first round who just happens to play your position, and that's exactly what happened with Reed. The Falcons' selection of Takkarist McKinley could be a sign that the Falcons don't plan on keeping Reed through the end of his current deal, which runs through 2019. 

    Credit: USATSI

  • Baltimore Ravens: QB Joe Flacco

    2017 base salary: $6 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $24.55 million

    The only thing that's elite about Joe Flacco right now is his bank account. The Ravens quarterback is currently scheduled to have the highest cap hit in the NFL this season, which would probably be a lot easier to swallow for fans in Baltimore if he wasn't coming off two completely mediocre seasons in 2015 and 2016. On the bright side, even if Flacco's contract is bloated for the next five years, they'll always have the memory of their win in Super Bowl XLVII.

    Credit: USATSI

  • Buffalo Bills: DL Marcell Dareus

    2017 base salary: $9.75 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $16.4 million

    When you sign a guy to a six-year, $108 million extension, you don't expect him to go out and get suspended twice, but that's exactly what Dareus has done since signing his deal. After getting off to a hot start in his career (2011-14), Dareus has been almost non-existent on the Bills defensive line over the past two seasons. The 27 year old is going to need to rack up about 10 sacks to even come close to justifying what the Bills are giving him this year. 

    Credit: USATSI

  • Carolina Panthers: DT Star Lotulelei

    2017 base salary: $6.78 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $6.78 million

    If you're wondering how a first-round contract can work to your advantage, just look at Lotulelei. The defensive lineman is getting a $5 million raise this season despite the fact that he's coming off arguably the worst year of his career. That raise is thanks to a fifth-year option that will jump his pay from from $1.71 million to $6.78 million. The good news for Lotulelei is that if he's just halfway decent in 2017, he could score a huge contract in free agency next March. 

    Credit: USATSI

  • Chicago Bears: QB Mike Glennon

    2017 base salary: $8 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $14 million

    The Bears threw logic out the window when they signed Glennon back in March. Instead of giving the Glennon a "prove-it" deal, Chicago just threw a bag of money at him in the form of a three-year, $45 million contract that included $18.5 million in guaranteed money. That's a lot for an unproven quarterback who hasn't started a game since 2014. 

    Credit: USATSI

  • Cincinnati Bengals: DE Michael Johnson

    2017 base salary: $3.55 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $5.13 million

    Did Johnson struggle in 2016 because he was playing next to two playmakers (Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap) who made him look worse than he actually is, or did he struggle because he was actually bad? Either way, unless Johnson turns things around in 2017, $3.55 million is way too much to be paying him. 

    Credit: USATSI

  • Cleveland Browns: QB Brock Osweiler

    2017 base salary: $16 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $16 million

    If you're wondering who the most overpaid person is on the most overpaid player list, that award goes to Osweiler. The only way he'll be able to justify his pay in 2017 is if he wins the starting quarterback job in Cleveland and then leads the Browns to the Super Bowl. Right now, he's not off to a good start because Hue Jackson has said that Cody Kessler will start off training camp as the No. 1 quarterback.

    Credit: USATSI

  • Dallas Cowboys: WR Dez Bryant

    2017 base salary: $13 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $17 million

    The fact that Bryant is on this list doesn't mean he's a bad receiver, it just means that he's not worth what the Cowboys are paying him. Since signing his five-year, $70 million extension in 2015, Bryant has played two seasons and missed a total of 10 games. Cole Beasley, who will be pulling in $3.5 million in 2017, caught more passes than Bryant did last season. 

    Credit: USATSI

  • Denver Broncos: TE Virgil Green

    2017 base salary: $2.8 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $3.3 million

    When you're paying a tight end nearly $3 million, the hope is that he'll be able to block and catch passes in your offense. However, Green has been anything but a dual threat in Denver. Although the 28 year old can block, he's basically been a non-factor in the passing game during his six seasons in Denver. 

    Credit: USATSI

  • Detroit Lions: WR Marvin Jones

    2017 base salary: $7 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $8.6 million

    When the the Lions handed Jones a five-year, $40 million contract in 2016, they were probably hoping that he'd give them more than 60 catches per season, but that didn't happen. Jones, who will be the highest paid receiver in Detroit this season, only caught 55 passes in 2016. 

    Credit: USATSI

  • Green Bay Packers: LB Clay Matthews

    2017 base salary: $10.1 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $15.1 million

    Matthews was banged up for most of the 2016 season, which might explain his down year. However, at age 31, it's very possible that he's going to start regressing as he tries to play one of the most physical positions in the game. If Matthews doesn't play well enough to justify his huge salary in 2017, the Packers could think about moving on from him after the season. 

    Credit: USATSI

  • Houston Texans: OL Jeff Allen

    2017 base salary: $4.75 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $6.44 million

    The Texans took a four-year, $28 million gamble on Allen before the 2016 season, and so far, that gamble hasn't paid off. Although Allen gave up five sacks last season, he does have one excuse: He was playing a position that he had never played before in the NFL (right guard). Now that he has a season of experience under his belt, the Texans are going to need Allen to figure out this whole right guard thing or Houston's quarterback -- whoever that is -- could be in for a long season. 

    Credit: USATSI

  • Indianapolis Colts: DE Kendall Langford

    2017 base salary: $4 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $4.25 million

    After racking up seven sacks in 2015, Langford didn't do much of anything during an injury-riddled 2016 season where he only played in seven games. Things aren't exactly looking up for 2017, either: Langford was placed on the PUP list to start training camp.

    Credit: USATSI

  • Jacksonville Jaguars: OL Branden Albert

    2017 base salary: $8.88 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $8.9 million

    Although Albert has technically never played a down in Jacksonville -- he was just traded there in March -- he's likely going to end up being the most overpaid player on the team. If Albert doesn't earn the job as the Jags' starting left tackle -- and there's no indication he will after skipping most of Jaguars offseason workouts -- that means they're going to have a backup on their bench who's pulling in nearly $9 million. 

    Credit: USATSI

  • Kansas City Chiefs: P Dustin Colquitt

    2017 base salary: $4.05 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $4.9 million

    When a punter is your most overpaid player, that means your front office is probably doing something right. Of course, if they're giving a punter $4 million, maybe they're not. Colquitt is scheduled to be the highest-paid punter in the NFL in 2017, which means he's going to need better numbers to justify his contract. Last season, the Chiefs punter finished outside the top-10 in net yardage -- a key punting category -- and tied for the NFL lead in touchbacks, a stat punters generally don't want to lead the league in.  

    Credit: USATSI

  • Los Angeles Chargers: WR Travis Benjamin

    2017 base salary: $5.25 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $6.5 million

    Benjamin is scheduled to have the highest base salary of any receiver on the team in 2017, which is saying a lot, considering he might only end up being the Chargers' fourth best pass-catcher this year. In Benjamin's defense, he was battling a PCL sprain for the second half of the 2016 season. Now that he's healthy though, Benjamin won't have any excuses if he's outplayed by Tyrell Williams, Dontrelle Inman and Keenan Allen. 

    Credit: USATSI

  • Los Angeles Rams: WR Tavon Austin

    2017 base salary: $3.5 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $14.98 million

    If you're wondering why the Rams fired Jeff Fisher last season, it's probably because it's impossible to explain why he gave such a monstrous contract to Tavon Austin. Austin was given a four-year, $42 million extension before the 2016 season, and then promptly went out and played like he wanted the Rams to rip up the deal and pretend it never happened. With Fisher and his run-based offense now out in L.A., Austin is going to have to improve on his numbers from last season (58 catches, 509 yards, three touchdowns). 

    Credit: USATSI

  • Miami Dolphins: QB Ryan Tannehill

    2017 base salary: $17.98 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $20.3 million

    The only thing you need to know about Tannehill's contract is that he has the same cap hit as Aaron Rodgers this season, which means the Packers either got a really good deal, the Dolphins got a really bad deal, or both. I'm guessing it's about 70 percent of that middle thing and 15 percent of those other two things. 

    Credit: USATSI

  • Minnesota Vikings: WR Jarius Wright

    2017 base salary: $2.5 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $3.16 million

    The good news for the Vikings is that their most overpaid player will only make $2.5 million in 2017. The bad news for the Vikings is that Wright has only averaged 22.5 catches per season since signing a contract extension before the 2015 season. That's just not the kind of production you want from the second highest-paid receiver on your team. 

    Credit: USATSI

  • New England Patriots: CB Stephon Gilmore

    2017 base salary: $4.5 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $8.57 million

    I'm almost afraid to list an overpaid player in New England because knowing Bill Belichick, he'll print out this list, put it on the team's bulletin board and then use it as a rallying cry to win the Super Bowl. I'm pretty sure that's what he does whenever anyone slights him. The only reason Giimore is listed here is because the Patriots don't normally hand out gigantic contracts, but they bucked the trend by doing that with Gilmore. If Gilmore struggles at all in 2017, that sound coming from New England will be Malcolm Butler demanding to be paid more money than his new teammate. 

    Credit: Getty Images

  • New Orleans Saints: TE Coby Fleener

    2017 base salary: $5.8 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $7.5 million

    After signing Fleener to a five-year, $36 million deal in 2016, the Saints were probably hoping he'd put up huge numbers in their pass first offense. Instead, Fleener basically ended up being the most expensive decoy ever, catching just 50 passes for 631 yards. 

    Credit: USATSI

  • New York Jets: Darrelle Revis

    2017 base salary: $6 million 
    2017 dead cap hit: $6 million

    If the definition of overpaid is someone who makes too much money for not doing enough, then Revis is the king of overpaid players this season. Basically, Revis is being paid $6 million by the Jets NOT to play for them this year. It's great work if you can get it. 

    Credit: USATSI

  • New York Giants: RB Shane Vereen

    2017 base salary: $2.15 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $3.92 million

    Vereen took a $1 million pay cut this offseason and still made our overpaid list, which is almost impressive. The Giants running back hasn't done much for New York since signing with the team prior to the 2015 season. In two years, Vereen has only rushed for a total of 418 yards. Vereen missed 11 games last season after injuring his triceps twice. 

    Credit: USATSI

  • Oakland Raiders: K Sebastian Janikowski

    2017 base salary: $4.05 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $4.41 million 

    Janikowski will be the NFL's highest-paid kicker in 2017, which would make sense if kicker pay was based on how cool your nickname is, because let's be honest, "The Polish Cannon" is the best nickname in football. Unfortunately, kicker pay has nothing to do with nicknames, which is why Janikowski is on this list. In 2017, not only will Janikowski be the only NFL kicker making more than $4 million, but he'll also be the only kicker making more than $3.2 million. That's a huge salary for a kicker who finished 18th in the NFL in field goal percentage last season (82.9 percent). 

    Credit: USATSI

  • Philadelphia Eagles: DE Vinny Curry

    2017 base salary: $7 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $9 million 

    After signing a five-year, $47.25 million extension in February 2016, Curry promptly responded by having the worst season of his career. Although Curry probably won't be cut anytime soon thanks to his monstrous contract, it does seem like the Eagles already have a Plan B in place in case Curry struggles again this season. Curry is going to have some competition in the form of Derek Barnett, who was Philly's first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. 

    Credit: USATSI

  • Pittsburgh Steelers: S Mike Mitchell

    2017 base salary: $5 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $8.14 million

    Mitchell isn't one of the top five safeties in the NFL, but he's definitely being paid like one, which isn't exactly a situation you want to be in if you're the Steelers. That $8.14 million cap hit that Pittsburgh will be taking on Mitchell's contract this year is the third-highest cap hit of any safety in the NFL for 2017, bigger than guys like Eric Berry ($5 million), Kam Chancellor ($8.04 million), Malcolm Jenkins ($7.5 million), Patrick Chung ($6.2 million) and T.J. Ward ($5.75 million). Whatever cut Mitchell's giving his agent, he needs to double it when his next contract negotiation comes up.  

    Credit: USATSI

  • San Francisco 49ers: FB Kyle Juszczyk

    2017 base salary: $2 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $3.75 million

    Juszczyk hasn't even played a down for the 49ers yet, but we're listing him as the most overpaid player because giving a four-year, $21 million deal to a fullback is borderline insane. Juszczyk's cap hit of $3.75 million in 2017 is nearly $1.5 million more than the next closest fullback. 

    Credit: USATSI

  • Seattle Seahawks: WR Jermaine Kearse

    2017 base salary: $2.2 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $4.03 million

    The fact that a receiver who's only scheduled to make $2.2 million in 2017 is the most overpaid player on the Seahawks roster tells you everything you need to know about this organization. Kearse caught just 41 passes for 510 yards in 2016, which probably isn't what the Seahawks wanted to see after signing him to a three-year, $13.5 million extension in March 2016. 

    Credit: USATSI

  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers: RB Doug Martin

    2017 base salary: $5.76 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $5.76 million

    Since signing a contract extension in March 2016, Martin has done a good job of making the Buccaneers regret the move. Not only did he miss eight games in 2016, but he's also going to miss at least three games in 2017 thanks to a suspension he was given at the end of last season. The Bucs still have high hopes for Martin, but that doesn't mean he's going to worth the $5.76 million they'll be paying him in 2017.

    Credit: USATSI

  • Tennessee Titans: P Brett Kern

    2017 base salary: $2.8 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $3.3 million 

    Kern is set to be the third-highest paid punter in the NFL in 2017, which is a high ranking for a player who had one of the lowest net punting averages in the NFL last season (38.6). The good news for the Titans is that if you're going to overpay someone, it might as well be your punter. 

    Credit: USATSI

  • Washington Redskins: OL Shawn Lauvao

    2017 base salary: $4 million 
    2017 salary cap hit: $5 million

    It'd be easy to put Kirk Cousins here, but we're not doing to do that. Instead, we're going to put a guy here who almost caused Cousins to get maimed several times last season. If Lauvao's 2017 season goes anything like his 2016 season, there's a good chance he won't be returning to Washington next year. 

    Credit: USATSI
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