The 2019 All-Paid Team

Aaron Rodgers, Khalil Mack lead 2019 All-Paid Team

By Anthony Holzman-Escareno
NFL.com
Published: March 18, 2019 at 07:16 p.m.

The 2019 All-Paid Team is a collection of the highest-paid players in the NFL at each position. It's essentially an All-Pro team, but the pocketbook supersedes pedigree and production for the day.

Average annual value (AAV) is the most accepted measure of comparison for player contracts, so it's what will be used for our purposes. Also, players who received the franchise tag are ineligible, due to the fixed nature of their salaries.

NOTES: All contract information is from Over The Cap and/or Spotrac. Cap percentages are based on this year's league-wide cap of $188.2 million. Also, stats since signing are listed EXCEPT for players who signed in 2019, as well as offensive linemen and the long snapper.

Before we get into the offense, defense and special teams, let's break down the numbers:

Total seasons: 120
Total combined value: $1.8 billion
Average annual value: $15.0 million
Total full guarantees: $781.4 million
Total combined 2019 AAV: $383.5 million
Total combined 2019 cap hit: $301.2 million*
Total combined 2019 cash: $314.1 million*

*Does not include Antonio Brown (unknown).

DEFENSE

Defensive lineman: Aaron Donald, Rams ($22.5 million AAV)
Full contract: Six-year, $135 million extension | Signed: 2018
Guaranteed at signing: $50 million (37.0 percent)
2019 Cap Hit: $17.1 million (9.1 percent) | 2019 Cash: $9.1 million

There's only one reason Khalil Mack is the NFL's highest-paid defender and Aaron Donald is not: Donald signed first. But it's not difficult to argue Donald is the NFL's best player. The Rams enjoyed an $8.9 million cap hit last season and will have another modest $17.1 million charge this season. However, the reigning two-time Defensive Player of the Year's cap numbers rise to $25 million in 2020 and $27.9 million in 2021.

Stats since signing: 16 games, 59 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 41 QB hits, 20.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 2 fumble rec.

Defensive lineman: Fletcher Cox, Eagles ($17.1 million AAV)
Full contract: Six-year, $102.6 million extension | Signed: 2016
Guaranteed at signing: $36.3 million (35.4 percent)
2019 Cap Hit: $11.9 million (6.3 percent) | 2019 Cash: $15.6 million

The two players with the most QB hits last season were Aaron Donald (41) and Cox (34). Cox is one of the NFL's elite interior defenders, and he's paid accordingly. The Eagles are in the midst of a 10-day window (March 13-22) to pay Cox a $14.67 million option bonus tied to his 2021 season, which would also offer the team cap relief this season. If the Eagles decide against picking up the 2021 season, Cox's 2019 base salary would escalate from $830,000 to $15.6 million. One way or another, Cox will earn $15.6 million for his services in 2019.

Stats since signing: 46 games, 115 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 65 QB hits, 22.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 4 fumble rec., 1 TD.

Edge: Khalil Mack, Bears ($23.5 million AAV)
Full contract: Six years, $141 million | Signed: 2018
Guaranteed at signing: $60 million (42.6 percent)
2019 cap hit: $11.9 million (6.3 percent) | 2019 cash: $15 million

The Bears made Mack the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history ($23.5M AAV) after trading two first-round draft picks (and more) for the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year. Only four players (all quarterbacks) received more fully guaranteed money than Mack at the time of their respective signings. His impact on the field has lived up to the commitment -- he led the NFL's No. 1 scoring defense en route to his third All-Pro nod in five seasons. The Bears, much like the Rams and Aaron Donald, are in the final season with Mack carrying a modest cap hit.

Stats since signing: 14 games, 47 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 18 QB hits, 12.5 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 2 fumble rec., 1 INT.

Edge: Von Miller, Broncos ($19.1 million AAV)
Full contract: Six years, $114.5 million | Signed: 2016
Guaranteed at signing: $42 million (36.7 percent)
2019 cap hit: $25.1 million (13.4 percent) | 2019 cash: $17.5 million

Arguably the NFL's best edge rusher, Miller leads the NFL in sacks (98.0) and forced fumbles (25, tied) since being drafted second overall in 2011. The Broncos have club options on Miller in 2020 and 2021, which will surely be picked up, given his superior play. He will continue to have cap charges north of $22 million in each of the next three seasons and carries the largest cap hit ($25.1 million) of all defensive players in 2019.
Stats since signing: 48 games, 183 tackles, 44 tackles for loss, 73 QB hits, 38.0 sacks, 9 forced fumbles, 4 fumble rec., 1 INT.

Linebacker: C.J. Mosley, Jets ($17 million AAV)
Full contract: Five years, $85 million | Signed: 2019
Guaranteed at signing: $43 million (50.6 percent)
2019 cap hit: $13 million (6.9 percent) | 2019 cash: $19 million

Mosley completely changed the landscape of the off-ball linebacker market. Not only did he surpass Luke Kuechly's previous annual high ($12.4 million) by $4.6 million, but he also bypassed Kuechly's previous high-water mark for fully guaranteed money by $16 million. The Jets expect an instant impact from one of only three players with more than 500 tackles and nine picks since 2014 (Kuechly and Telvin Smith are the others).

Linebacker: Kwon Alexander, 49ers ($13.5 million AAV)
Full contract: Four years, $54 million | Signed: 2019
Guaranteed at signing: $14.3 million (26.4 percent)
2019 cap hit: $11.5 million (6.1 percent) | 2019 cash: $14.3 million

Alexander got $13.5 million a season after missing 10 games with a torn ACL in 2018. However, his new contract is full of Monopoly money. It's essentially a one-year deal worth $14.5 million. The 49ers could save $10.1 million by releasing Alexander after 2019, and the team used a small signing bonus ($4 million) and a large first-year roster bonus ($8.8 million) to avoid pushing dead money into the future.

Linebacker: Anthony Barr, Vikings ($13.5 million AAV)
Full contract: Four years, $67.5 million | Signed: 2019
Guaranteed at signing: $15.9 million (23.6 percent)
2019 cap hit: $5.6 million (3.0 percent) | 2019 cash: $16 million

Barr decided to stay in Minnesota after initially agreeing to terms with the Jets. Like Kwon Alexander, he also received a low ratio of full guarantees, but the structure of his contract is more secure than Alexander's. Barr's $13 million signing bonus means Barr will have $10.4 million in dead money in 2020. Of all defenders to be selected in 2014, only Aaron Donald (five) has been selected to more Pro Bowls than Barr (four).

Cornerback: Josh Norman, Redskins ($15 million AAV)
Full contract: Five years, $75 million | Signed: 2016
Guaranteed at signing: $36.5 million (48.7 percent)
2019 cap hit: $14.5 million (7.7 percent) | 2019 cash: $11.5 million

After the Panthers rescinded their franchise tag following the 2015 season, Norman signed a contract that still has the most total value, total guarantees, full guarantees and average annual value of any cornerback contract on the market. Since joining the Redskins in 2016, Norman is the only cornerback to record at least two interceptions and two forced fumbles in a season multiple times.

Stats since signing: 46 games, 64 tackles, 37 passes defensed, 6 INTs, 7 forced fumbles, 2 fumble rec.

Cornerback: Trumaine Johnson, Jets ($14.5 million AAV)
Full contract: Four years, $67.5 million | Signed: 2018
Guaranteed at signing: $34 million (46.9 percent)
2019 cap hit: $12 million (6.4 percent) | 2019 cash: $8 million

Johnson played on two straight franchise tags with the Rams before signing his lucrative pact with the Jets in 2018. After making $3.04 million on his four-year rookie contract, Johnson has made $56.7 million over the last three seasons. In a mediocre 2018 campaign, his first with the Jets, he led the team with four interceptions.

Stats since signing: 10 games, 40 tackles, 5 passes defensed, 4 INTs, 1 TD, 1 forced fumbles, 1 fumble rec.

Nickel cornerback: Logan Ryan, Titans ($10 million AAV)
Full contract: Three years, $30 million | Signed: 2017
Guaranteed at signing: $12 million (40.0 percent)
2019 cap hit: $10.7 million (5.7 percent) | 2019 cash: $10 million

At 28 years old and entering a contract season, Ryan is playing for another big payday. Although he registered four sacks in 2018, he hasn't recorded an interception in two seasons. The Titans can still save $10 million against the cap by releasing Ryan, but the former Patriot seems to be part of Mike Vrabel's 2019 plans. Justin Coleman's new deal with the Lions ($9 million AAV) is second among NFL nickel corners -- which included guys who played at least 50 percent of snaps in the slot (min. 100 snaps).

Stats since signing: 19 games, 138 tackles, 19 passes defensed, 0 INTs, 1 forced fumbles, 4.0 sacks.

Free safety: Tyrann Mathieu, Chiefs ($14 million AAV)
Full contract: Three years, $42 million | Signed: 2019
Guaranteed at signing: $26.8 million (63.8 percent)
2019 cap hit: $6.4 million (3.4 percent) | 2019 cash: $16.3 million

Prior to and after the start of the new league year, the Chiefs rostered the highest-paid safety in the NFL, albeit two different players. Kansas City released injury-plagued All-Pro Eric Berry ($13 million AAV) and officially signed Mathieu ($14 million) in the span of a few hours. The Honey Badger bet on himself in 2018 and won, turning a one-year, $7 million prove-it deal with the Texans into a three-year, $42 million contract with the Chiefs.

Strong safety: Landon Collins, Redskins ($14 million AAV)
Full contract: Six years, $84 million | Signed: 2019
Guaranteed at signing: $26 million (31.0 percent)
2019 cap hit: $4 million (2.1 percent) | 2019 cash: $16 million

Landon Collins idolized the late Sean Taylor growing up, and Washington owner Dan Snyder gifted Collins Taylor's autographed jersey ... with a contract and expectations to match. His $84 million contract is the largest ever given to a safety. The 25-year-old safety is the only player in the NFL with at least 400 tackles and 30 passes defensed since 2015, and is one of two players to lead his team in tackles in each of the last four seasons (joining Vikings LB Eric Kendricks).

For Offense and Special Teams...
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001023182/article/aaron-rodgers-khalil-mack-lead-2019-allpaid-team