Where is Micah Parsons on the NFL highest-paid defensive players list?

AI-assisted summary
• Micah Parsons’s trade to the Green Bay Packers and subsequent extension made him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
• The top 10 highest-paid defensive players by average annual value and total contract value include Parsons, T.J. Watt, and Myles Garrett.

The commonly held belief is that defense wins championships.

For some of the NFL’s top defenders, they are just now starting to get paid that way.

While quarterbacks broke $50 million in terms of average annual value (AAV) years ago, defensive players are now just getting into the $40 million range and moving up the charts.

This offseason has been particularly lucrative for those eyeing new contracts. Since the end of Super Bowl 59, Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby each broke the record for the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in league history. Danielle Hunter also etched his name onto the list, checking in between those two. Then T.J. Watt managed to pass them all.

Now Micah Parsons is set to join the party amongst the NFL’s highest-paid. The Cowboys traded Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, and the star pass rusher agreed to a historic extension with his new team, a deal that makes him the new highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

It might not come with the flash or notoriety that a quarterback, running back and receiver might get, but playing defense is still honest work. And hard work at that.

In a world where rule changes have made life difficult for the defense, the best have still managed to make their presence felt and the prices will only grow from here.

Highest-paid NFL defensive players

Here’s a look at the top-10 highest-paid defensive players in terms of AAV and total contract value, according to Spotrac.

AAV

1. Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys: $48 million
2. T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers: $41 million
3. Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns: $40 million
4. Danielle Hunter, Houston Texans: $35.6 million
5. Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders: $35.5. million
6. Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers: $34 million
7. Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs: $31.75 million
8. Sauce Gardner, New York Jets: $30.1 million
9. Derek Stingley Jr., Houston Texans: $30 million
10. Josh Hines-Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars: $28.25 million

Total contract value

1. Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys: $188 million
2. Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers: $170 million
3. Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns: $160 million
4. Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs: $158.75 million
5. Joshua Hines-Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars: $141.25 million
6. Brian Burns, New York Giants: $141 million
7. T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers: $123 million
8. Sauce Gardner, New York Jets: $120.4 million
9. Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders: $106.5 million
10. Milton Williams, New England Patriots: $104 million