Most Underpaid Offensive Linemen in the NFL

Putting together an above-average offensive line for below-average money isn’t an easy task. How a team identifies and signs talent up front can affect NFL playoff odds in the long run.

Before you make any NFL parlay choices, here’s a look at the most underpaid offensive line groups in the league.

NFL Offensive Linemen Spending

The Pittsburgh Steelers have the lowest 2022 cap spending of $23.7 million on offensive linemen, according to Spotrac. The average for the position is $37.2 million.

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 | Overpaid Defensive Linemen | Underpaid Defensive Linemen | Overpaid Linebackers | Underpaid Linebackers | Overpaid Defensive Backs | Underpaid Defensive Backs

Most Underpaid Offensive Lineman Groups

Green Bay Packers

Though the Packers were without their highest-paid O-lineman for most of 2021, they still had impressive production up front. This is while looking at a $29.2 million cap hit this upcoming season, which is the seventh-lowest in the NFL.

Last season, they were third in adjusted line yards and sixth in adjusted sack rate, both metrics from Football Outsiders, which look at run blocking and pass protection.

David Bakhtiari, a former All-Pro and Pro Bowl left tackle, played just one game last season following an ACL tear in 2020. This year, he has a cap hit of $13.4 million, 13th among offensive tackles. 

While the Packers lost tackle Billy Turner in free agency, they still return left guard Jon Runyan, center Josh Myers, right guard Royce Newman and right tackle Elgton Jenkins, who all started at least six games each. Jenkins ($4.7 million) and Myers ($1.3 million) will have a combined $6 million cap hit, while Newman and Runyan will be under $1 million.

Rookie year in the books 📖

Jon Runyan's 2020 in photos 📸: https://t.co/GJWXkQGdmg#GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/6NziMKhN9E

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) April 6, 2021

New England Patriots

The Patriots spend barely more than the Packers on their offensive line, as their cap hit at the position is the eighth-lowest at $29.9 million. But New England also had a great push up front.

The Patriots were ninth in adjusted line yards and eighth in adjusted sack rate. They tied for the third-fewest sacks allowed at 28.

David Andrews has a $4.3 million cap hit next season and was rated the sixth-best center by Pro Football Focus. Michael Onwenu’s cap hit is under $1 million, and he was PFF’s third-best guard. 

A gift from David Andrews to all of us on his birthday.@dandrews61 | #ForeverNE pic.twitter.com/olY3HmNA7U

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) July 10, 2022

Shaq Mason was traded by the Pats this offseason and was graded the fourth-best guard, but they hope first-round rookie Cole Strange, with a cap hit of $2.2 million, can help the team at a lower price.

Projected starting tackles Isaiah Wynn ($10.4 million) and Trenton Brown ($4.5 million) lead the team in terms of O-line cap hits.

Los Angeles Chargers

While the Chargers are just under the average offensive line cap spending at $33.2 million, they found some incredible value at the position.

The Chargers were fifth in adjusted sack rate and 10th in adjusted line yards in 2021. They tied for the sixth-fewest sacks allowed (31).

Corey Linsley is the most paid O-lineman in the group at $11.6 million. And while he’s the third-highest paid center in the NFL, he was graded second by PFF among those at the position who played at least five games.

welcome to the bolt fam 💪

we’ve agreed to terms with Corey Linsley + Matt Feiler » https://t.co/fvFncjDyiF pic.twitter.com/POO1IqRb0y

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) March 17, 2021

Elsewhere on the interior, Matt Feiler, who started 16 games last year, will have a cap hit of $7.5 million. The Chargers added Zion Johnson in the first round of this year’s draft, and he’ll have a cap hit of $2.7 million. 

LA has Rashawn Slater on a rookie deal with a cap hit of $3.8 million in 2022 and is one of the brightest young tackles in the league, graded eighth by PFF. Trey Pipkins III is another projected starting tackle and will have a cap hit of $1.2 million.