Equal pay for equal play is not exactly how things roll in the NFL. This is especially true for many players drafted in the latter rounds. Those that excel end up vastly outplaying their contracts a couple of years into their careers.
We are not suggesting that these particular players are grumbling about their sub-par salaries. But, that’s not stopping us from speaking up on their behalves.
One of the finest running backs in the league, currently employed by the Arizona Cardinals, makes a pittance, especially compared to other backs who produce far less. David Johnson deserves a huge raise, and anyone reading this will agree after seeing what his current contract is worth.
In other cases, some seasoned veterans are playing out their final contract years and are slated for massive raises. If their current teams aren’t willing to offer up the big bucks, other clubs surely will.
Here are eight NFL players who deserve big raises.
Note:Â All salary information is provided by Spotrac.
Derek Carr, quarterback, Oakland Raiders
Carr was the 36th overall pick by the Raiders in 2014. Because of this, his rookie contract worth a total of $5.37 million pays him beans compared to nearly every other starting quarterback. That’s just how the dice fell for Carr, who slipped past the first round in 2014.
It simply is not fair that NFL backups such as Scott Tolzien, Matt Barkley and Brandon Weeden will cash in bigger paydays than Carr this season. And, we won’t even get started on guys like Cleveland Browns quarterback Brock Osweiler, set to earn $16 million this year. Yuck.
The NFL world, including Carr, knows this is terribly unfair. But the young man is showing maturity, exercising patience while he waits for a very lucrative extension to be worked out with the Raiders.
If no such agreement is made by the start of training camp, Carr plans to play out this season as things stand and earn slightly less than $1 million. He does not want contract negotiations to be a distraction once football starts getting serious in July.
Carr’s Raiders made it to the postseason after posting a tremendous 12-4 record. The young quarterback has passed for 81 touchdowns compared to only 31 interceptions over 47 games. He is easily on course to land one of the fattest quarterback paychecks as a result.
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