The NFL isn't short of bargain contracts. Given the briefness of the average NFL career — per Statista, the average player plays a little more than three seasons — the uncertainty of the market often pushes players to sign less-than-ideal deals.
For every player who inks signs a mammoth contract (Deshaun Watson, Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Kirk Cousins), there are legions of players who are tethered to teams under far more unfavorable financial terms.
Some of those players are bonafide superstars. Others are dependable starters. But they all have one thing in common: they aren't making anything near their market value.
MORE: Deshaun Watson, Ezekiel Elliott and the most overpaid players in 2022
With that, here's The Sporting News unveils its NFL's All-Bargain team:
QB: Tom Brady
- Total contract value: $15 million
- AAV: $15 million
- Total guarantees: $15 million (100 percent)
TB12 is one of the greatest players in NFL history. His current contract doesn't line up with that status.
Brady will make $15 million this season. That's not chump change, but it doesn't reflect his true on-the-field value.
For comparison, quarterbacks who will earn more money than Brady this year include Jimmy Garoppolo, Sam Darnold and Carson Wentz. Imagine saying that a few years ago.
Brady and the Bucs agreed to renegotiate his deal after he announced his decision to return for a 23rd season, freeing $9 million in cap space. And although he is still making a decent wage, it could — should — be more.
RB: Jonathan Taylor
- Total contract value: $7.83 million
- AAV: $1.96 million
- Total guarantees: $4.22 million (53.9 percent)
Taylor has only played three seasons in the league, so it's understandable why he's on this list. Nonetheless, the 23-year-old cemented his status as one of the league's preeminent running backs last year when he rushed for 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns, both league highs.
Despite the gaudy numbers, Taylor will net less than $8 million over the course of his rookie deal with the Colts.
Running back salaries across the league are diminishing, with teams having put less and less value on rushers in recent years. Christian McCaffrey, the league's highest-paid back, is making just a hair over $16 million per year. That's comparable to middle-tier wideouts like Kenny Golladay, Robbie Anderson and Allen Robinson.
MORE: Why Colts' Jonathan Taylor won SN NFL Offensive Player of the Year
WR: Justin Jefferson
- Total contract value: $13.12 million
- AAV: $3.28 million
- Total guarantees: $13.12 million (100 percent)
Much like Taylor, J Jettas' place on this list is dictated by his youth. After being selected 22nd overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, Jefferson has put up numbers that would make the greatest wideouts in NFL history jealous. He racked up 3,016 receiving yards over his first two seasons, more than any other player in NFL history.
For all his exploits, Jefferson is only making a hair over $3 million per season. Unlike a lot of players on this list, all of his money is guaranteed.
But Jefferson's profile around the league is much higher than his salary would indicate.
MORE: How Jerry Jeudy, CeeDee Lamb, Henry Ruggs went before Justin Jefferson
TE: T.J. Hockenson, Lions
- Total contract value: $19.82 million
- AAV: $4.95 million
- Total guarantees: $19.82 million (100 percent)
Hockenson has quietly become one of the league's best tight ends since entering the league in 2019. The Iowa alum racked up 723 receiving yards in his second season in the league and 583 yards in just 12 games last year. He has gotten off to a hot start in 2022 and arguably has been Jared Goff's favorite target through the Lions' first five games. He's on pace for a career-best season.
Hockenson has the talent to be paid more than $4.95 million AAV. That figure makes him just the 27th-highest paid tight end in football.
OT: Tyron Smith, Cowboys
- Total contract value: $97.6 million
- AAV: $12.2 million
- Total guarantees: $22.12 million (22.7 percent)
The 31-year old stalwart inked a mammoth eight-year deal with the Cowboys in 2014. But the two-time All-Pro tackle, a member of the Hall of Fame's All-2010s team, plays a premium position, and its top earner, the 49ers' Trent Williams, is making nearly twice as much as Smith in terms of AAV.
Injuries no doubt have slowed Smith, but he has done an admirable job protecting Dallas' passers. When he's healthy, few tackles are as reliable.
G: Mike Onwenu, Patriots
- Total contract value: $3.5 million
- AAV: $874,369
- Total guarantees: $202,476 (5.78 percent)
The Patriots are treading water amid QB Mac Jones' ankle injury, and a major reason why is the success of their run game. And Onwenu has been a big part of that, opening holes for Rhamondre Stevenson and Damien Harris.
Onwenu has been showing off his skills after coming and replacing Shaq Mason, a starter on two Tom Brady-led Super Bowl teams in New England. With the run game looking increasingly legit and rookie fill-in QB Bailey Zappe able to make proper reads, it's clear that Onwenu's deal is looking more and more like a bargain.
C: Tyler Linderbaum, Ravens
- Total contract value: $13.24 million
- AAV: $3.3 million
- Total guarantees: $13.24 million (100 percent)
He has only played five games in the NFL, so caveats are certainly in order. But Linderbaum fits coordinator Greg Roman's system like a glove.
Whether it's pass blocking for Lamar Jackson or blocking for lead back J.K. Dobbins, Linderbaum looks every bit the player Baltimore expected when it spent a first-round pick on him in April.
If he's able to keep this up, the four-year rookie deal Linderbaum signed will look like a steal.
EDGE: Nick Bosa, 49ers
- Total contract value: $33.55 million
- AAV: $8.39 million
- Total guarantees: $33.55 million (100 percent)
There's something about those Bosa brothers, huh? In just four seasons, younger brother Nick has already thrust himself to the top of the league's edge-rushing totem pole. Last season was his best; he racked up 15.5 sacks in 17 games playing on both ends of the line.
The 49ers smartly picked up Bosa's fifth-year option for the 2023 season, at $17.8 million. But make no mistake, when he hits the free-agent market, he will be worth far more than his current AAV.
DT: Jeffery Simmons, Titans
- Total contract value: $12.66 million
- AAV: $3.16 million
- Total guarantees: $12.66 million (100 percent)
He isn't one of the more recognizable D-tackles in football, but Simmons has left a big impression on the league since joining the Titans in 2019.
Simmons' numbers suggest he's one of the best nose tackles in the league. That includes 8.5 sacks in 2021. But the 25-year old is earning just $3.16 million per year, a number that puts him well behind some of the league's top players at his position.
LB: Micah Parsons, Cowboys
- Total contract value: $17.08 million
- AAV: $4.27 million
- Total guarantees: $17.08 million (100 percent)
There hasn't been too much excitement in Dallas the past few years. Parsons is one player who has found success during that time.
The 23-year-old is already one of the best linebackers in the game. He's a menace against both the run and pass. He racked up 13 sacks as a rookie en route to All-Pro honors. That puts him in Lawrence Taylor territory.
Parsons will inevitably ink a much bigger deal in the future. But given the nature of rookie contracts in the NFL, it's hard to think of a better value than him.
MORE: Micah Parsons sack pace vs. history
CB: A.J. Terrell, Falcons
- Total contract value: $14.3 million
- AAV: $3.58 million
- Total guarantees: $14.3 million (100 percent)
The amount of young talent entering the league the past few years has been startling. Terrell was the latest player to launch himself into stardom last year. He led the league by holding quarterbacks to a 39 percent completion rate when he was targeted.
Terrell has time to push himself up the cornerback totem pole, but given his team-friendly rookie deal — Terrell is slated to make a base salary of about $1.9 million in 2022 — he deserves his spot on this list.
S: Antoine Winfield Jr., Bucs
- Total contract value: $7.3 million
- AAV: $1.275 million
- Total guarantees: $3.827 million (52 percent)
Winfield is a Super Bowl champion at 24, and his career has continued to go from strength to strength. He has started every game he's played in, he locks down the middle of the field and he delivers bone-rattling hits.
That's not too bad for a player who is slated to pull in less than $2 million in 2022.
