9. New Orleans Saints
The Saints are another team trying its hardest to get to the postseason. This will hopefully be accomplished while quarterback Drew Brees is still employed. In not-so-breaking news, Brees’ $19 million salary commands 11.19 percent of the team’s total $87.13 million spent on offense.
Left tackle Terron Armstead’s salary eats up $7.5 million. Also taking up $7.5 million in cap is tight end Coby Fleener. Many might think that Fleener didn’t exactly earn his keep when he scored only three times last year in his debut with the team.
Center Max Unger, whom the Saints traded away fot tight end Jimmy Graham in 2015, takes up $7.4 in cap dollars. Hopefully, he will be ready to play by the start of the season due to a foot injury. The Saints also pay $6.1 million to right tackle Zach Strief.
Running back Mark Ingram is rightfully the highest paid at his position, occupying $5.24 million in salary cap. Newly signed running back Adrian Peterson’s budget-friendly salary of $2.25 million pales in comparison.
As for receivers, believe it or not veteran Ted Ginn Jr. earns the highest salary taking up $3 million in this year’s cap. Second-year receiver Michael Thomas is a bargain basement deal, accounting for less than one percent of the offense’s costs.
Taking this all into account, the Saints produced the No. 1 best offense in 2016. Winning more than losing though is key, however. So it will fall to the defense to pick up some slack if the Saints want to play beyond Week 17 this year.