Most Underpaid Defensive Linemen in the NFL

Some franchises with the best NFL odds each week understand the value of production up front. A few know how to find that value while paying very little compared to the rest of the league.

Here’s a look at the most underpaid defensive linemen:

NFL Defensive Linemen Salaries

The Baltimore Ravens pay the least for defensive linemen at $17 million in terms of cap spending, according to Spotrac. That’s less than half the average of $34.5 million.

Here are the total cap hits for each teams’ defensive linemen:

Most Underpaid and Overpaid NFL Players

Overpaid Quarterbacks | Underpaid Quarterbacks | Overpaid Running Backs | Underpaid Running Backs | Overpaid Wide Receivers | Underpaid Wide Receivers | Overpaid Offensive Linemen | Underpaid Offensive Linemen | Overpaid Defensive Linemen | Overpaid Linebackers | Underpaid Linebackers | Overpaid Defensive Backs | Underpaid Defensive Backs

Most Underpaid Defensive Lineman Groups

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers’ defensive front is fearsome. And they pay the third-least at the position with $21.3 million cap spending going toward defensive linemen, which is just 10.3% of the team’s total cap.

Last season, Tampa Bay was fifth in adjusted line yards and 16th in adjusted sack rate, metrics from Football Outsiders which examine defensive performance against the run and on passing plays.

While Ndamukong Suh and Jason Pierre-Paul are gone, both were 32 or older last season. And they have others who should keep this group performing at a high level.

Vita Vea makes the most among Tampa Bay’s D-linemen. While he’s on a four-year, $71 million deal, his cap hit will be $3.8 million in 2022. He was a Pro Bowler last season and was 10th in Pro Football Focus’ grades of D-linemen who played at least 50% of the most snaps in the league.

No defensive end has a cap hit of more than $3 million on the team. That includes newly-acquired former Pro Bowler Akiem Hicks, whose cap hit is $2.4 million.

We've extended DL Vita Vea through the 2026 season 🙌#GoBucs

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 9, 2022

Tennessee Titans

The Titans’ cap spending for defensive linemen is the sixth-lowest in the NFL in 2022. But it’s been a top-notch unit recently.

Tennessee was 10th in both adjusted line yards and adjusted sack rate last season. Several of their primary starters are back.

Jeffery Simmons, a Pro Bowler in 2021, will have a cap hit of just $4 million. The defensive tackle was 14th in PFF’s grades last season.

Denico Autry will have the highest cap hit for the Titans up front at $8.7 million. He was 24th in PFF’s grades among edge players.

The @Titans were the only team in the NFL who had three players with 8+ sacks this season

Harold Landry
Denico Autry
Jeffery Simmons pic.twitter.com/lK2AH3Mz7T

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) January 19, 2022

Cleveland Browns

At $30.5 million, the Browns’ defensive line cap spending is below the league average. And yet they have two of the most prominent pass-rushing stars on their team.

Myles Garrett is scheduled to have a cap hit of $13 million, which is 6% of the team’s cap. He was third in the league with 16 sacks last year and was PFF’s top-graded edge rusher.

Jadeveon Clowney, another accomplished pass rusher, will have a cap hit of $3.5 million. No other D-lineman on the team will have a cap hit of more than $4 million.

Last season, the Browns were 14th in adjusted line yards and 13th in adjusted sack rate.

Myles Garrett. BEAST. 👀@Flash_Garrett @Browns pic.twitter.com/p4cDmiIT3P

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) September 27, 2021