The best bargains in the NFL

By far the least recognizable name on this list, Person's given the 49ers great value for the NFL minimum. Person signed for $915,000 this year to compete at guard or be a depth piece behind Jonathan Cooper ($4.95 million) and 2016 first-rounder Joshua Garnett. Instead, the 49ers cut Cooper, slotted Garnett as a backup and have started Person in all seven games. Pro Football Focus rates the 30-year-old nomad as its No. 18 overall guard — well ahead of a few players making eight figures per year. This is a good return on a minimal investment. 

Slot cornerbacks in general are undervalued, and the Rams were able to keep their proven inside defender for cheap this offseason. Grading as one of the NFL's better corners in 2017, Robey-Coleman signed for three years and $15.75 million. Despite his contract being signed in 2018, Robey-Coleman is the NFL's 35th-highest-paid corner. In a season that's seen Aqib Talib head to injured reserve and Marcus Peters struggle, Robey-Coleman has thrived. Pro Football Focus rates the former Bills defender as a top-10 corner and third-best slot player.

Hopping from the 2016 Super Bowl champion Patriots to participating in the 2017 Eagles' championship parade, Long continues to play well as an off-the-bench contributor in Philadelphia. Part of a deep edge-rushing crew, the 33-year-old defensive end registered five sacks last season and has played 234 snaps this year. The Eagles landed Long for two years and $4.5 million and continue to benefit from the veteran's impact. 

Edelman hasn't been available as often as the Patriots envisioned, missing 29 games since the middle of the 2015 season. But he's been one of the NFL's best slot receivers. Yet, he's nowhere in that financial stratosphere. Edelman signed for four years and $17 million in 2014 and, when healthy, has been Tom Brady's go-to wideout since Wes Welker's departure. Edelman is currently on a two-year, $11M extension agreed to in 2017. While Edelman's numbers aren't on Welker's level, he has two 1,000-yard seasons and is one of the many bargains on the Patriots' payroll.

The Steelers are starting the same five offensive linemen for a fourth straight year, and none of these blockers is on a rookie deal. One reason Pittsburgh's been able to fit all five under the salary cap: Foster's contract. A career-long Steeler who made his first starts for the 2009 team, Foster agreed to stay in Pittsburgh for a modest three-year, $9.6 million deal on the eve of 2016 free agency. He's been integral to Le'Veon Bell's delayed running style and sits as Pro Football Focus' No. 15 overall guard in 2018 despite being the 36th-highest-paid guard in the league.

Baltimore made a big splash this offseason in adding Brown. While his injury troubles in Arizona made the one-year, $5 million contract seem reasonable, the deep threat now looks like a borderline eight-figure-per-year player. Brown's become Baltimore's top target. With 558 receiving yards, the fifth-year veteran is on pace to top his career high (1,003). He's averaging 19.9 yards per catch and giving the Ravens a major boost. The former Division II star is a key reason why Baltimore is an AFC contender.

Oftentimes, teams end up paying for past performance. That hasn't been the case for the Saints' second Ingram contract. The former Heisman Trophy winner's been a much better back on his four-year, $16 million deal than he was for the duration of his rookie accord. Ingram didn't have a 1,000-yard rushing season from 2011-14 and played in 16 games only once in that span. In 2016-17, Ingram delivered two 1,000-yard seasons and didn't miss a game. He teamed with Alvin Kamara last year to become the first backfield tandem ever to feature two players eclipsing 1,500 yards from scrimmage. 

Brown first became a free agent in 2016. He signed a one-year deal with Buffalo and led the AFC with 149 tackles. Interest oddly didn't follow, and Brown signed for one year and $2.55 million with Washington. Finally, Brown received his payday — a four-year, $28M deal — in March. But even that represents some value for Washington, which received top-notch work (Brown's 9.7 tackles per game exceeded his Buffalo mark) last season and wisely kept the inside linebacker at a still-team-friendly price.

Based on where the edge defender market's gone, the Saints have their top pass rusher on a franchise-friendly deal. Although Jordan earns $11 million per year, that's less than half of what Khalil Mack — whom Jordan edged out for a first-team All-Pro slot last season — is making. Seventeen edge defenders outearn Jordan annually, and with the 29-year-old pass rusher signed through 2020, he'll be on this deal for a bit longer. Jordan made the 2015 and '17 Pro Bowls and registered a career-high 13 sacks last season. The Saints have gotten quality mileage from this contract.

Placed alongside Jordan because he's attached to a nearly identical deal, Kerrigan is higher due to consistency. The 2011 first-round pick signed a five-year deal worth $11.5 million annually a month after Jordan inked his during the 2015 offseason. Washington's premier outside linebacker has 74.5 career sacks — behind only Von Miller and J.J. Watt in that span. As the salary cap increases and crazier payments are authorized for inferior edge rushers, Washington's Kerrigan agreement looks better and better.

One of the best safeties of this era, Weddle is a cornerstone on a top-tier Ravens defense. The longtime San Diegan signed with Baltimore in March 2016. Since, he's made two Pro Bowls and hasn't missed a game. The two-time All-Pro intercepted six passes in 2017. The Ravens secured this production for less than $7 million a year — barely more than half of Eric Berry's safety record agreement. Weddle's age (31 when he signed the contract) contributed to the discount, but he's nevertheless underpaid and vital to Baltimore's dominant secondary.

The lead emcee at the Eagles' Super Bowl parade has been one of the NFL's best centers for a while. Kelce's a two-time Pro Bowler who was the All-Pro first team's center last season. The former sixth-round pick was pivotal for a dominant offensive line during the best season in franchise history. Kelce remains underpaid. The eighth-year player is still attached to a deal he signed in February 2014. The six-year, $37.5 million pact ties Kelce to the Eagles through 2020, and that wasn't even the NFL's top center contract at the time. Now? Kelce's $6.25M average pay is 14th among snappers, with two making over $10M annually.

With the Chargers losing only to the Chiefs and Rams, Rivers has his team in a strong spot despite the Bolts having next to no home-field advantage. The 36-year-old quarterback is playing on an extension he signed in 2015. Thanks to 2018 taking the quarterback market to a more lucrative place, Rivers' four-year, $83.25 million deal is beyond Bolts-friendly. The likely Hall of Famer is the 14th-highest-paid passer in football. He's thrown 17 touchdown passes and three interceptions and trails only Drew Brees in passer rating (117.8). 

Offensive line salaries have skyrocketed in recent years. Practice-time constraints and the college game producing so few pro-ready blockers led to windfalls for unremarkable free-agent linemen. In 2016, the Chiefs signed one of the NFL's best right tackles for less than $7 million per year. Schwartz earns $6.6M annually — barely half of what his lesser counterpart (left tackle Eric Fisher) makes — and continues to reward the Chiefs, doing so as the NFL's 29th-highest-paid tackle. Schwartz helped Kareem Hunt win the rushing title last season and more than held his own against Von Miller earlier this month.  

Unfamiliar with Bynes' work? That's understandable. The 1-6 Cardinals are not garnering much publicity. But on a team that has two first-round picks at linebacker, this journeyman and former undrafted free agent is outplaying both. Bynes has been an elite run defender and leads all NFL linebackers with 510 snaps. That's nearly double the usage of 2017 Arizona first-rounder Haason Reddick (258) and more than triple 2014 Round 1 pick Deone Bucannon (166). After signing a three-year deal this offseason, Bynes makes $1.8 million on average. His signing bonus: $1M. This is one of the Cards' few bright spots.

Until Aaron Donald raised the salary ceiling for 3-4 defensive ends, J.J. Watt was this position's top wage earner for nearly four years. His six-year, $100 million deal sounds lofty, but for one of the greatest defenders in NFL history, it's a Texans-friendly pact. Watt's injuries the past two years have swung the pendulum a bit, but the three-time Defensive Player of the Year is back in form and now on the same salary tier as players far less accomplished. Maybe the only lineman on Watt's level, Donald now outearns the Houston icon by nearly $6M per year and received $87M in guarantees compared to Watt's $51M.

An August workout wowed Washington brass enough that a contract offer came Peterson's way immediately. But it was still at the league-minimum rate for a 12th-year player. The future Hall of Famer's making barely $1 million this season but is adding another chapter to his legacy. The three-time rushing champion quickly became Washington's starter. Aging running backs are mostly discarded, especially ones with limited receiving skills. The 33-year-old Peterson is an exception. He's in the top 10 in rushing yards (430), and a 4.3 yards-per-carry figure resides well north of his 2016 and '17 seasons' averages.

One of the game's best slot receivers, Tate's playing on a deal he's long outperformed. The former Seahawk's first year in Detroit, 2014, ended with Matthew Stafford finding Tate (1,331 receiving yards) far more than Calvin Johnson. Tate posted 1,000-yard campaigns in 2016 and '17 as well. He's done this on a five-year, $31 million contract. Among WRs outearning Tate on average: Tavon Austin, Paul Richardson and Marqise Lee. Tate's angled for a new contract for a bit, but it doesn't look like it will come from the Lions. The 30-year-old pass catcher stands to be a coveted 2019 free agent.

It's interesting now that Graham and Michael Bennett are on the same team. At their best, both have been underpaid, all-around defensive ends. Graham remains an elite 4-3 end. He's paid like a middling starter. Graham's on a four-year, $26 million deal. There are worse players at this position who earn more than double the 2010 first-rounder's average salary. The Super Bowl hero's gone above and beyond for the Eagles over the course of this deal, but Graham's now 30 and on an expiring contract. His last chance to cash in is coming. 

One of this decade's best cornerbacks has been playing on a well-below-market contract for four seasons. The Broncos re-signed their top corner late in 2014 to a five-year deal that pays barely $8 million annually. Long a Pro Football Focus superhero, Harris became a first-team All-Pro in 2016, doing so after two second-team All-Pro cameos. Displaying consistency on a Patrick Peterson level, and rare versatility that allows him to vacillate between the boundary and the slot, Harris is still paid like a second-tier corner (21st in average salary). This is one of the league's stranger cases, and the Broncos have benefited. 

Perhaps this era's greatest guard, Yanda continues to anchor the Ravens' front. He signed a four-year, $31 million deal during the 2015 season — just before a boom in the O-line market created the eight-figure-per-year guard club. Zack Martin now heads that contingent at $14M AAV; Yanda is making barely half that. The 12th-year blocker is the NFL's 18th-highest-paid guard, and the Ravens have reaped the benefits of his early-30s seasons. As guard value has rapidly increased, Yanda's salaries over the course of this contract jump off the screen. 

These three are combined because of their connection during a weird offseason. Arguably the top three safeties available in March, they sat unemployed for months after recent years brought nice paydays for markets' top safeties. Reid's collusion grievance probably dragged down Boston and Vaccaro as collateral damage. Teams avoided them, too, despite both being upper-echelon young starters. The Cardinals signed Boston (eight INTs since 2017's outset) for one year and $1.5 million; the Titans soon added Vaccaro on the same terms. Reid is making $1.39M. Circumstances provided a nickels-on-the-dollar opportunity, and three teams capitalized.

Thielen's past two seasons have been wildly out of step with his contract. The Vikings are paying their best wide receiver less than $5 million per year. When Thielen agreed to a four-year, $17M extension, he was a restricted free agent coming off a 967-yard season. The past two years, he's played like one of the NFL's best wideouts. The former undrafted free agent broke out for 1,267 yards in 2017 and is now the first player in NFL history to open a season with seven straight 100-yard games. Stefon Diggs' new deal pays him $14M per year. It's surprising that Thielen's bargain-bin pay rate hasn't been an issue, but that should change soon.

Arguably the greatest tight end ever remains attached to an extension he agreed to in 2012. At his best, Gronkowski is much closer to the NFL's most dominant wide receiver than the next-best tight end. The Patriots continue to hold that six-year, $54 million re-up over him (albeit with incentive packages). With elite receiver salaries approaching $20M per year, Gronk is not even the highest-paid tight end, and far lesser players are signing deals in his neighborhood. The discontent the four-time All-Pro felt toward the organization is understandable, because injuries will affect his next contract (if there is one).

Brady is the runaway winner here. The New England legend has given the Pats significant discounts for several years. Brady's earned $20 million in a season just once, and his current contract's $15M average salary ranks 48th in the NFL (22nd among quarterbacks). These deals represent a perpetually interesting storyline. Whether they're related to his wife's immense earning power or the prospect that Brady really is that committed to helping his team, the Patriots have used his past several salaries to help fortify strong rosters and compete for Super Bowls.