From most expensive to least expensive,
these lists will change after many NFL
players become unrestricted free agents
upon the expiration of their 2021 player
contracts on March 16 2022, the start of
2022 NFL free agency:

~~~

1. Quarterbacks
https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/2022/02/14/nfls-highest-paid-quarterbacks-2022-season-ranking-qbs-salary/6765693001/

1. Chiefs Patrick Mahomes ... $45 million
2. Bills Josh Allen ................... $43 million
3. Cowboys Dak Prescott ....... $40 million
4. Texans Deshaun Watson .... $39 million *
5. Seahawks Russell Wilson ... $35 million
6. Packers Aaron Rodgers ...... $33.5 million
6. Lions Jared Goff .................. $33.5 million
8. Vikings Kirk Cousins ............ $33 million
9. Colts Carson Wentz ............. $32 million
10. Falcons Matt Ryan ............. $30 million

* Status unclear due to personal conduct
issues stemming from lawsuits & investi-
gations that may result in suspension

Sidenote: QB Matt Stafford, winner of Super
Bowl 56, a bargain with a 2021 cap impact
of $20 million and a 2022 cap impact of $23
million (of course, a bargain apart from the
consequence of the draft picks the Rams
gave up to acquire him)
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StafMa00.htm

~~~

2. Edge Rushers
https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/2022/02/14/nfls-highest-paid-edge-rushers-2022-season-edge-rushers-salaries/6765931001/

1. Steelers T.J. Watt ....................... $28 million
2. Chargers Joey Bosa ................... $27 million
3. Browns Myles Garrett ................. $25 million
4. Bears Khalil Mack ....................... $23.5 million
5. Cowboys Demarcus Lawrence ... $21 million
6. Chiefs Frank Clark ....................... $20.8 million
7. Rams Von Miller .......................... $19.1 million
8. Lions Trey Flowers ...................... $18 million
9. Saints Cameron Jordan .............. $17.5 million
10. 49ers Arik Armstead ................. $17 million

~~~

3. Wide Receivers
https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/2022/02/14/nfls-highest-paid-wide-receivers-2022-season-ranking-wrs-salary/6765774001/

1. Cards DeAndre Hopkins ... $27.3 million
2. Falcons Julio Jones ......... $22 million
3. Chargers Keenan Allen ..... $20.03 million
4. Cowboys Amari Cooper .... $20 million
5. Saints Michael Thomas .... $19.3 million
6. Chiefs Tyreek Hill .............. $18 million
6. Giants Kenny Golladay ...... $18 million
8. Bears Allen Robinson ........ $17.9 million
9. Seahawks Tyler Lockett .... $17.3 million
10. Bucs Mike Evans ............. $16.5 million

~~~

4. Offensive Linemen
https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/2022/02/14/nfls-highest-paid-offensive-linemen-2022-season-ranking-salary/6765949001/

1. 49ers Trent Williams ........ $23.01 million
2. Packers David Bakhtiari ... $23 million
3. Texans Laremy Tunsil ....... $22 million
4. Ravens Ronnie Stanley ..... $19.8 million
5. Saints Ryan Ramczyk ....... $19.2 million
6. Vikings Brian O'Neill ......... $18.5 million
7. Coms Brandon Scherff ..... $18.04 million
8. Raiders Kolton Miller ........ $18.005 million
9. Eagles Lane Johnson ....... $18 million
10. Colts Braden Smith ......... $17.5 million

~~~

5. Defensive Linemen
https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/2022/02/14/nfls-highest-paid-defensive-linemen-2022-season-ranking-salary/6765980001/

1. Rams Aaron Donald ................ $22.5 million
2. Giants Leonard Williams.......... $21 million
2. Colts DeForest Buckner .......... $21 million
4. Chiefs Chris Jones .................. $20 million
5. Coms Jonathan Allen .............. $18 million
6. Bucs Vita Vea ........................... $17.5 million
7. Packers Kenny Clark ................ $17.5 million
8. Eagles Fletcher Cox ................. $17.1 million
9. Falcons Grady Jarrett .............. $17 million
10. Steelers Cameron Heyward ... $16.4 million

~~~

6. Cornerbacks
https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/2021/01/19/nfls-highest-paid-cornerbacks-2021-ranking-cbs-salary/4222893001/

1. Rams Jalen Ramsey ............ $21 million
2. Ravens Marlon Humphrey ... $19.5 million
3. Bills Tre'Davious White ........ $17.3 million
4. Eagles Darius Slay ............... $16.7 million
5. Dolphins Byron Jones .......... $16.5 million
6. Dolphins Xavien Howard ...... $15.1 million
7. Giants James Bradberry ....... $14.5 million
8. Ravens Marcus Peters .......... $14 million
8. Bengals Trae Waynes ............ $14 million
10. Coms William Jackson III ... $13.5 million

~~~

7. Linebackers
https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/2022/02/14/nfls-highest-paid-linebackers-2022-season-ranking-lbs-salary/6765898001/

1. Colts Darius Leonard .......... $19.7 million
2. 49ers Fred Warner .............. $19 million
3. Seahawks Bobby Wagner ... $18 million
4. Jets C.J. Mosley .................. $17 million
5. Texans Zack Cunningham ... $14.5 million
6. Jaguars Myles Jack ............. $14.3 million
6. Falcons Deion Jones ............ $14.3 million
8. Panthers Shaq Thompson ... $13.54 million
9. Dolphins Jerome Baker ........ $12.5 million
9. Bucs Lavonte David .............. $12.5 million

~~~

8. Safeties
https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/2022/02/14/nfls-highest-paid-safeties-2022-season-ranking-safeties-salary/6765874001/

1. Seahawks Jamal Adams .... $17.5 million
2. Vikings Harrison Smith ....... $16 million
3. Broncos Justin Simmons ... $15.25 million
4. Cards Budda Baker ............. $14.75 million
5. Bears Eddie Jackson .......... $14.6 million
6. Titans Kevin Byard .............. $14.1 million
7. Chiefs Tyrann Mathieu ........ $14 million
8. Coms Landon Collins .......... $14 million
9. Patriots Devin McCourty ..... $11.5 million
10. Browns John Johnson ...... $11.25 million

~~~

9. Running Backs
https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/2022/02/14/nfls-highest-paid-running-backs-2022-season-ranking-rbs-salary/6765748001/

1. Panthers Christian McCaffrey ... $16 million
2. Saints Alvin Kamara ................... $15 million
2. Cowboys Ezekiel Elliott .............. $15 million
4. Vikings Dalvin Cook .................... $12.6 million
5. Titans Derrick Henry ................... $12.5 million
6. Browns Nick Chubb .................... $12.2 million
7. Packers Aaron Jones ................. $12 million
7. Bengals Joe Mixon ...................... $12 million
9. Broncos Melvin Gordon ............... $8 million
10. Giants Saquon Barkley .............. $7.8 million

~~~

10. Tight Ends
https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/2022/02/14/nfls-highest-paid-tight-ends-2022-season-ranking-tes-salary/6765822001/

1. 49ers George Kittle ........ $15 million
2. Chiefs Travis Kelce ........ $14.3 million
3. Eagles Dallas Goedert ... $14.25 million
4. Ravens Mark Andrews ... $14 million
5. Patriots Jonnu Smith ..... $12.5 million
5. Patriots Hunter Henry .... $12.5 million
7. Browns Austin Hooper ... $10.5 million
8. Cards Zach Ertz .............. $8.5 million
9. Falcons Kyle Pitts ........... $8.2 million
10. Coms Logan Thomas ... $8.02 million

--- --- ---

observer <prohumanistfreelover@gmail.com> writes:

> From most expensive to least expensive,
> these lists will change after many NFL
> players become unrestricted free agents
> upon the expiration of their 2021 player
> contracts on March 16 2022, the start of
> 2022 NFL free agency:
>
> ~~~
>
> 1. Quarterbacks
> https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/2022/02/14/nfls-highest-paid-quarterbacks-2022-season-ranking-qbs-salary/6765693001/
>
> 1. Chiefs Patrick Mahomes ... $45 million
> 2. Bills Josh Allen ................... $43 million
> 3. Cowboys Dak Prescott ....... $40 million
> 4. Texans Deshaun Watson .... $39 million *
> 5. Seahawks Russell Wilson ... $35 million
> 6. Packers Aaron Rodgers ...... $33.5 million
> 6. Lions Jared Goff .................. $33.5 million
> 8. Vikings Kirk Cousins ............ $33 million
> 9. Colts Carson Wentz ............. $32 million
> 10. Falcons Matt Ryan ............. $30 million
>
> * Status unclear due to personal conduct
> issues stemming from lawsuits & investi-
> gations that may result in suspension

I'd say the status is clear. Even if he goes on the exempt list, he
still gets paid. They owe him $35M for 2022 if they don't trade him, and
if they trade him someone else owes him the $35M. The Texans still have
to amortize $16M that was prepaid in either case.

> Sidenote: QB Matt Stafford, winner of Super
> Bowl 56, a bargain with a 2021 cap impact
> of $20 million and a 2022 cap impact of $23
> million (of course, a bargain apart from the
> consequence of the draft picks the Rams
> gave up to acquire him)
> https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StafMa00.htm

You shouldn't really compare salaries to cap hits. If you want to
compare Stafford to the previous list, you need to incorporate either
the signing bonus paid to him by Detroit, or else the signing bonus
given to Goff by LA. Not a huge deal, but in the terms of the above list
I'd say Stafford is a $27M/year guy based on his 5 year $135M extension.

He's clearly worth more, which is why they had to trade draft capital to
get him, and more draft capital to unload Goff's wretched contract.

On Monday, February 14, 2022 at 5:50:31 PM UTC-6, Eddie Grove wrote:

> observer <prohumanis...@gmail.com> writes:
/> > From most expensive to least expensive,
/> > these lists will change after many NFL
/> > players become unrestricted free agents
/> > upon the expiration of their 2021 player
/> > contracts on March 16 2022, the start of
/> > 2022 NFL free agency:
/> >
/> > ~~~
/> >
/> > 1. Quarterbacks
/> > https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/2022/02/14/nfls-highest-paid-quarterbacks-2022-season-ranking-qbs-salary/6765693001/
/> >
/> > 1. Chiefs Patrick Mahomes ... $45 million
/> > 2. Bills Josh Allen ................... $43 million
/> > 3. Cowboys Dak Prescott ....... $40 million
/> > 4. Texans Deshaun Watson .... $39 million *
/> > 5. Seahawks Russell Wilson ... $35 million
/> > 6. Packers Aaron Rodgers ...... $33.5 million
/> > 6. Lions Jared Goff .................. $33.5 million
/> > 8. Vikings Kirk Cousins ............ $33 million
/> > 9. Colts Carson Wentz ............. $32 million
/> > 10. Falcons Matt Ryan ............. $30 million
/> >
/> > * Status unclear due to personal conduct
/> > issues stemming from lawsuits & investi-
/> > gations that may result in suspension

..> I'd say the status is clear.

Unclear in that he may go to jail or he may
be suspended by the NFL or he may be traded,
and per the following, the Texans have the
option of cutting him prior to June 1, & I'm
sure you can surmise the likelihood of the
Texans doing that or not.
https://overthecap.com/player/deshaun-watson/5596/

Recently, the Texans were said to have the
lowest chance of winning Super Bowl 57, &
perhaps the Deshaun Watson quagmire is
the reason behind that. Here are links to 2
recent articles about that:
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/01/18/nick-caserio-deshaun-watson-return-more-than-likely-would-not-be-the-case/
https://torotimes.com/2022/02/14/report-texans-coach-lovie-smith-wants-deshaun-watson-resolution-as-soon-as-possible/

..> Even if he goes on the exempt list, he
..> still gets paid. They owe him $35M for 2022 if they don't trade him, and
..> if they trade him someone else owes him the $35M. The Texans still have
..> to amortize $16M that was prepaid in either case.

/> > Sidenote: QB Matt Stafford, winner of Super
/> > Bowl 56, a bargain with a 2021 cap impact
/> > of $20 million and a 2022 cap impact of $23
/> > million (of course, a bargain apart from the
/> > consequence of the draft picks the Rams
/> > gave up to acquire him)
/> > https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StafMa00.htm

..> You shouldn't really compare salaries to cap hits. If you want to
..> compare Stafford to the previous list, you need to incorporate either
..> the signing bonus paid to him by Detroit, or else the signing bonus
..> given to Goff by LA. Not a huge deal, but in the terms of the above list
..> I'd say Stafford is a $27M/year guy based on his 5 year $135M extension.
..>
..> He's clearly worth more, which is why they had to trade draft capital to
..> get him, and more draft capital to unload Goff's wretched contract.

You're an expert on such matters, the
article listed salaries & my comments
on Matt Stafford were based on salary
cap hits in 2021 & 2022 & the comments
on Deshaun Watson were related to the
unclear nature of his future (see above).
https://overthecap.com/player/matt-stafford/1060/

For complete details listed in previous
post, see
https://groups.google.com/g/alt.sports.football.pro.dallas-cowboys/c/GX1IEv0VUL8/m/boINjUVQBQAJ

--- --- ---

observer <prohumanistfreelover@gmail.com> writes:

> Unclear in that he may go to jail or he may
> be suspended by the NFL or he may be traded,

He hasn't been charged. No reason to think he will be.

Eventually Watson will settle. The complainants earlier demanded
nondisclosure of all details. Surely Watson can get that if he wants it.
Has the NFL ever suspended anyone for settling a civil lawsuit with no
details disclosed?

Trades take the contract along with the player, so that possibility
doesn't count at all.

On Monday, February 14, 2022 at 7:42:40 PM UTC-6, Eddie Grove wrote:

> observer writes:
https://groups.google.com/g/alt.sports.football.pro.dallas-cowboys/c/GX1IEv0VUL8/m/imEnunVZBQAJ

/> He hasn't been charged. No reason to think he will be.

There's plenty of reasons to think he might
be charged and for reasons unknown, the
expectation the grand jury would complete
its work by the end of January has not trans-
pired.

Speculation in the following article is that if
charges are filed, they would be for misde-
meanors, but that's just speculation, & he
may (or may not) be charged with one or
more felonies.
https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/12/17/deshaun-watson-grand-jury-probe-is-expected-to-conclude-by-late-january/
/> Eventually Watson will settle. The complainants earlier demanded
/> nondisclosure of all details. Surely Watson can get that if he wants it.
/> Has the NFL ever suspended anyone for settling a civil lawsuit with no
/> details disclosed?
/>
/> Trades take the contract along with the player, so that possibility
/> doesn't count at all.

Your stance is apart from the nature of the
criminal investigations and until the grand
jury does or does not charge Deshaun for
a crime or crimes, it's impossible to know
what the outcome of that criminal investi-
gation will be.

I'd advise one skeptically assess Deshaun's
lawyer's statements (of innocence) & await
the results of the criminal investigations, i.e.
the grand jury, before attempting to assess
what may happen with Deshaun's NFL foot-
ball career, impossible to know until the crim-
inal charge(s) are determined.

Texas Criminal Statute of Limitations
https://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/criminal-case-statute-of-limitations/TX-felonies-misdemeanors.htm

--- --- ---

Follow-up:

I'm always amazed at how hard it is to get to
the truth of the matter & the more I examine
the plethora of reports about Deshaun Watson
& what happened regarding 'massages', the
more I learn.

I thought the grand jury was working on the
cases, but per the following article, 10 criminal
complaints filed against Deshaun Watson are
still being investigated and haven't yet been
turned over to a grand jury.

Here are more articles about all that:

(Jul 26 2021)
8 women filing criminal complaints are among
the 22 women filing civil lawsuits; 2 women fil-
ing criminal complaints are *not* among the 22
women filing civil lawsuits
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/31890699/two-women-new-allegations-10-file-police-complaints-texans-qb-deshaun-watson

(Jan 9 2022)
https://www.chron.com/sports/texans/article/Deshaun-Watson-Texans-legal-issues-clarity-lawsuit-16761055.php

.... "the Houston prosecutor handling 10 criminal
complaints filed against Watson is expected to
make clear her stance on any potential charges
sometime in the next several weeks and turn over
the case to a grand jury."

(Jan 28 2022)
https://www.chron.com/sports/texans/article/Deshaun-Watson-witness-massage-fifth-amendment-16813020.php

.... The person Buzbee describes as someone
who coordinated Watson's massage sessions
also was a fact witness, but pled the fifth
throughout questioning on the advice of her
attorney.

.... Watson himself can be deposed as early as
late February and Buzbee has said he intends
to use his "full forty-plus hours" to question him,
according to League of Justice's Amy Dash.

In addition to the 22 civil lawsuits, there are also
10 criminal complaints against Watson. The NFL
also has an open investigation into the quarter-
back's conduct.

On Monday, February 14, 2022 at 10:39:12 PM UTC-6, observer wrote:

> On Monday, February 14, 2022 at 7:42:40 PM UTC-6, Eddie Grove wrote:

> > observer writes:

..> https://groups.google.com/g/alt.sports.football.pro.dallas-cowboys/c/GX1IEv0VUL8/m/imEnunVZBQAJ
~> /> He hasn't been charged. No reason to think he will be.
..> There's plenty of reasons to think he might
..> be charged and for reasons unknown, the
..> expectation the grand jury would complete
..> its work by the end of January has not trans-
..> pired.
..>
..> Speculation in the following article is that if
..> charges are filed, they would be for misde-
..> meanors, but that's just speculation, & he
..> may (or may not) be charged with one or
..> more felonies.
..> https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/12/17/deshaun-watson-grand-jury-probe-is-expected-to-conclude-by-late-january/
~> /> Eventually Watson will settle. The complainants earlier demanded
~> /> nondisclosure of all details. Surely Watson can get that if he wants it.
~> /> Has the NFL ever suspended anyone for settling a civil lawsuit with no
~> /> details disclosed?
~> />
~> /> Trades take the contract along with the player, so that possibility
~> /> doesn't count at all.
..> Your stance is apart from the nature of the
..> criminal investigations and until the grand
..> jury does or does not charge Deshaun for
..> a crime or crimes, it's impossible to know
..> what the outcome of that criminal investi-
..> gation will be.
..>
..> I'd advise one skeptically assess Deshaun's
..> lawyer's statements (of innocence) & await
..> the results of the criminal investigations, i.e.
..> the grand jury, before attempting to assess
..> what may happen with Deshaun's NFL foot-
..> ball career, impossible to know until the crim-
..> inal charge(s) is(are) determined.
..>
..> Texas Criminal Statute of Limitations
..> https://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/criminal-case-statute-of-limitations/TX-felonies-misdemeanors.htm
..>
..> *--- --- ---*