Brock Purdy, Travis Kelce, or Baker Mayfield? Fans debate over who’s the most underpaid NFL player currently
Football fans confused as to which player is being underpaid despite putting up match winning numbers.
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(L) Baker Mayfield, (M) Raheem Mostert and (R) Travis Kelce (Image via FirstSportz)
There’s always the lingering feeling among NFL fans that some players earn according to their potential or performance, aka the underpaid. Then there’s the other side of the coin as well. Players who tend to bag an astronomical salary despite not making any eye-catching growth, aka the overpaid.
Sometimes the players themselves refrain from signing an enormous paycheck. It also depends on which position they are playing, because some of them have more earning value than others.
But usually, the lowest-paid players are the rookies and the practice squad members. It’s not limited to the starters in the league. Veteran players who receive contract extensions often have to settle for a bargain deal as the salary cap increases each season.
For example, three-time Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes signed a 10-year deal worth $450 million in 2020, which was restructured to $210.6 million between 2023 and 2026. However, that’s still low compared to the likes of Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, or Joe Burrow‘s earnings annually.
Then there’s the curious case of journeyman quarterback Baker Mayfield. After bouncing around several NFL teams, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked Mayfield up, giving him a 1-year conditional contract worth $4 million with added incentives. In return, he led the Bucs to the NFC Divisional Round, their first since winning the Super Bowl in 2021. Yet he is a free agent once more, ready for another challenge.
Football fans debate who is the most underpaid player in the NFL
Then there is Brock Purdy, who was picked last in the 2022 draft and is among the lowest earners, not just in the quarterback spot but in the NFL in general. Purdy’s rookie deal only earns him $4 million, even though he led the San Francisco 49ers to back-to-back NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl appearance. It may change after the increased salary cap for the 2024 season, but until then, he is one of the most underpaid players in the league.
Travis Kelce is more or less in the same boat. Arguably the greatest tight end in the NFL’s history should earn the most. But he owns the fourth-highest paycheck of $14.32 million per year. Kelce once said that his agent always makes fun of him for earning less than his peers, despite his success.
In contrast, the highest-earning tight end in the league is Giants Darren Waller, with $17 million a year. Waller only has 2 seasons with 1000 receiving yards, whereas Kelce has 7 along with his three rings.
The 34-year-old should count himself lucky that he isn’t in a similar situation as Raheem Mostert. In a Reddit chat, fans argued that the Miami Dolphins veteran who was running back is underpaid compared to his output. Especially after leading the league in rushing touchdowns with 18 (21 overall).
Mostert’s contract is up in the 2025 season, and he currently earns an average of $2.8 million a year. In contrast, his running-back partner, Jeff Wilson, earns an average of $3 million, barely putting up the numbers.
Who is the most underpaid NFL player currently?
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Average earnings of every position in the NFL
Here’s a list of average salaries in increasing order for every position in the NFL for the 2023 season, as per Spotrac. For once it’s not the quarterback that occupies the top spot.
| Position | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Long Snapper | $1,069,016 |
| Fullback | $1,724,440 |
| Punter | $1,520,940 |
| Running Back | $1,789,687 |
| Cornerback | $1,999,348 |
| Wide Receiver | $2,277,702 |
| Tight End | $2,055,238 |
| Safety | $2,196,749 |
| Kicker | $2,228,472 |
| Defensive Tackle | $2,496,660 |
| Center | $2,394,057 |
| Defensive End | $2,996,247 |
| Guard | $2,500,421 |
| Edge Rusher | $3,234,289 |
| Outside Linebacker | $3,703,880 |
| Inside Linebacker | $3,856,602 |
| Right Tackle | $5,128,196 |
| Quarterback | $4,855,892 |
| Left Tackle | $8,952,680 |
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Ishan Misra
(3023 Articles Published)