The pandemic and empty stadiums didn't stop NFL teams from rushing to pay premium talent like Aaron Donald tossing blockers aside on the way to the quarterback. After a slow few months of business, front offices spent more than $1.1 billion on big contract extensions since August.
The game's two best tight ends got paid.
A top-five quarterback got paid.
Even running backs got paid, with Alvin Kamara and Dalvin Cook signing deals worth a combined $138 million in new money.
This is not 2011.
By training camp, teams had come to grips with the expected salary-cap shortfall in 2021 and simply shrugged. The Chiefs, Steelers, Falcons, Eagles and Saints all project to be $10 million or more over next year's projected cap of $175 million. But restructuring contracts and cutting veterans is always the easy part. It comes down to having an owner willing to spend hard cash on players every year.
And paying your best players resonates with the locker room and accentuates the win-now mantra these teams preach inside their buildings.
More messages will be sent. Based on calls around the league, here are the players who are next in line for extensions and under-radar possibilities at every position, along with a reset of the current highest-paid player at every position.
Quarterback
Current highest-paid player: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs | $45 million per year; 10 years, $450 million, $63 million guaranteed at signing
Next in line: Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens (and maybe Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys). Prescott is an obvious choice, but the gulf keeps widening on the Cowboys. The QB money has gotten so obscene that Dallas is basically watching Prescott price himself out of town. Complicating matters is the notion that Prescott is considered very good but not a top-five quarterback. Perhaps Prescott has a massive year and playoff success and the Cowboys have no choice but to give him whatever he wants. But one more year on the franchise tag and a new home in 2022 wouldn't shock, either.
Meanwhile, premier first-round quarterbacks get paid after three seasons now, and Jackson is well-positioned to follow Deshaun Watson and Mahomes into the $40 million-per-year threshold. He looked great Week 1 with 275 yards and three touchdowns on 20-of-25 passing. An encore to an MVP season would force the issue with Baltimore.
Under-the-radar possibility: Cam Newton, New England Patriots. The stage might be set for Newton to apply pressure on New England to pay him during or after this season. He's a 31-year-old former MVP on a revenge tour -- and a near-minimum one-year contract with incentives. Questions persist about whether Newton can still play at a high level consistently. But if he delivers, New England can begin planning for Newton's future. Don't expect the Patriots to back up the Brinks. They had Tom Brady for 20 years and paid him less than $20 million in all but one of them (Brady finally broke the barrier in 2019, with $23 million). And if Newton struggles, the Patriots can walk away from this one-year experiment with plans for Jarrett Stidham or a new draft pick. And then there's always this: After 15 rushing attempts in Week 1, will the Patriots assign 200-plus collisions for a QB rental?
Running back
Current highest-paid player: Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers | $16 million per year; four years, $64 million, $36.3 million guaranteed
Next in line: Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers. A year from free agency, Jones is the next premier back in line for a new deal. Both sides negotiated leading up to Week 1 but haven't gotten it done. The presence of David Bakhtiari, also a 2021 free agent, might have slowed things for Jones, whose 19 total touchdowns last season elevated his worth.
Under-the-radar possibility: Saquon Barkley, New York Giants. He's under the radar because he's probably three years away from true free agency. But the recent tailback money trail opens the lane for Barkley, who could be the first running back to flirt with $20 million per year. Many evaluators consider him the game's best at the position right now, and if he has his Christian McCaffrey year in 2020, the Giants will give Barkley the McCaffrey contract treatment.
Wide receiver
Current highest-paid player: DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals | $27.25 million per year; two years, $54.5 million, $42.5 million guaranteed (woven into the three years left on previous deal)
Next in line: Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Godwin is comfortable playing out the season and hitting free agency or negotiating through the franchise tag. He knows he's a top-10 receiver and those players can ask for $20 million per year, or close to it. The Bucs aren't afraid to spend. They are ready to attack the two-year Tom Brady window to win big. Godwin is a big part of that.
Under-the-radar possibility: Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos. Many evaluators are predicting stardom for Sutton in 2020. If the Drew Lock experiment succeeds and Sutton is a catalyst, expect the Broncos to make efforts to extend him before his contract year. ... Also watch out for T.Y. Hilton, who is eyeing a big year with Philip Rivers.
Tight end
Current highest-paid player: George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers | $15 million per year; five years, $75 million, $40 million guaranteed
Next in line: Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles. Negotiations recently stalled, and sources say the developments of the tight end market -- namely, Travis Kelce's four-year, $57 million extension -- complicated matters. Kelce has $20.75 million in guarantees but carries non-guaranteed cap hits of $15 million and $17.25 million in the final two years of the deal. Ertz wants stronger guarantees and overall structure. Ertz is by far the Eagles' best pass-catching weapon and a safety valve for Carson Wentz. Expect these sides to revisit the topic when emotions cool down.
Under-the-radar possibility: Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans. Smith is one of the league's most versatile tight ends, but doesn't have the numbers (73 receptions in three seasons) to justify a huge payout. That could change in Year 4, which is why Tennessee might look to extend him early in the season if he shows he's ready for a bigger workload.
Offensive tackle
Current highest-paid player: Laremy Tunsil, Houston Texans | $22 million per year; three years, $66 million, $50 million guaranteed
Next in line: Ronnie Stanley, Baltimore Ravens. Stanley has emerged as a premier left tackle at the perfect time. The tackle market pushed beyond $20 million annually thanks to Tunsil, who had the unique leverage of the Texans trading two first-round picks to get him. The buzz is that Stanley wants an even bigger number, which is probably why this isn't done yet. But it will be. ... The New Orleans Saints must figure out a way to pay Ryan Ramczyk, who enters the fourth year of his rookie deal and might be the game's best right tackle by season's end. ... The Packers want 2021 free agent Bakhtiari on a third contract, but the franchise tag is a possibility at this point.
Under-the-radar possibility: Alejandro Villanueva, Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh prioritized signing Cameron Heyward before Week 1, but Villanueva is a two-time Pro Bowler who figures to do well in free agency if he gets there. He's 31, but didn't start playing meaningful NFL snaps until 2015, so his body isn't worn down. The Steelers could attempt to re-sign him after the season. ... Also watch for Taylor Moton in Carolina, as the Panthers want to keep their young tackle.
Offensive guard
Current highest-paid player: Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys | $14 million per year; six years, $84 million, $40 million guaranteed
Next in line: Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts. He'll be two years from free agency once the Colts pick up his fifth-year option this offseason, but Indianapolis is no doubt planning for this deal now. Nelson is considered the best guard in football and plays for a team that prioritizes offensive line play above all else. Players like this, on teams like this, get paid accordingly.
Under-the-radar possibility: Brandon Scherff, Washington Football Team. Missing 13 games since 2018 hurt Scherff's chances at a mega-extension with Washington, but when healthy he's the kind of player worth extending. So it's possible that he plays this year out on the franchise tag, and things could heat up before Washington has to tag him again.
Center
Current highest-paid player: Ryan Kelly, Indianapolis Colts | $12.5 million per year; four years, $50 million, $30 million guaranteed
Next in line: Corey Linsley, Green Bay Packers. Linsley is in the final year of a three-year, $25.5 million deal. He's not a blockbuster name but is incredibly efficient, leading all linemen in pass-block win rate in 2019 (98.5%). The Packers prioritized nose tackle Kenny Clark with an August extension, and Bakhtiari might be next, but Linsley's deal should be easy to execute since centers don't make huge money.
Under-the-radar possibility: Matt Skura, Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore tendered Skura at $2.1 million despite his coming off major knee surgery, which is a good sign. If Skura plays well early in the year, don't be surprised if Baltimore tries to get a deal done.
Pass-rusher
Current highest-paid player: Joey Bosa, Los Angeles Chargers | $27 million per year; five years, $135 million, $102 million guaranteed
Next in line: T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers. Watt will absolutely be a priority for Pittsburgh in the offseason of 2021. His 34.5 sacks through his first three seasons are more than the two highest-paid players at the position, Joey Bosa (28.5) and Myles Garrett (30.5), during the same time frame. Plus he finds creative ways to make splash plays with 15 forced fumbles, three interceptions and 18 pass deflections. He embodies everything Pittsburgh stands for on and off the field. He'll get his.
Under-the-radar possibility: Matt Judon, Baltimore Ravens. Yes, Baltimore has a lot of players to pay. But Judon is in a position to up his value in a big way in 2020. He's coming off a 9.5-sack season as the team's primary edge rusher, and if he shows the ability to anchor for the second straight year, Baltimore might have no choice but to hand him a long-term deal. The Ravens can do that early in the offseason, use the tag on him for the second straight year and keep negotiating -- or let him walk like they did with Za'Darius Smith, who has changed the Green Bay Packers' defense. Maybe they learned from Smith's departure and don't want a repeat. ... Also watch for Danielle Hunter in Minnesota. Whispers persist he's not happy with his deal, and though he's under contract through 2023, the Vikings know they can't keep him vastly underpaid ($14.4 million per year) forever, and will likely address it at some point.
Defensive tackle
Current highest-paid player: Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams | $22.5 million per year; six years, $135 million, $86.9 million guaranteed
Next in line: Jonathan Allen, Washington Football Team. Allen is a staple along a vastly improving defensive front in Washington. Both sides have acknowledged they want to stay together long term, but with Allen two years from free agency due to a fifth-year rookie option, negotiations haven't advanced to a critical state yet. Expect that to change over the next eight to 12 months. Allen has 14.5 sacks since 2018 and pairs nicely with Chase Young up front.
Under-the-radar possibility: Dalvin Tomlinson, New York Giants. He's not a marquee name but could be a valuable piece to the Giants' future. Last season, Tomlinson graded the highest among Giants defensive linemen at 78.2, per Pro Football Focus. He's more a run-stuffer than a pass-rusher (4.5 sacks in three years) but players who cause issues for centers and guards often get paid.
Linebacker
Current highest-paid player: Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks | $18 million per year; three years, $54 million, $40.2 million guaranteed
Next in line: Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. One of the league's most underrated players is a seven-time captain for the Bucs and wants to retire in Tampa. The two sides have been negotiating for weeks but haven't closed the gap yet. This could happen soon. The only knock on David is his age (30), but he does a little bit of everything for Tampa's vastly improving defense.
Under-the-radar possibility: Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers. Let's target a young linebacker who could get paid sooner than some think. Warner is two years from free agency, but has become a top-10 linebacker in the league, calling the defense and fiercely pursuing angles in the passing game. San Francisco would be prudent to be proactive with him this offseason. ... Also watch for Matt Milano, a 2021 free agent, in Buffalo. He's an improving player who embodies Buffalo's toughness on defense.
Cornerback
Current highest-paid player: Jalen Ramsey, Los Angeles Rams | $21 million per year; five years, $105 million, $71.2 million guaranteed
Next in line: Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans Saints and Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens. These first-round picks from the 2017 class have entered the elite discussion. Both teams looked into signing them before Week 1, in lieu of the inflating cornerback market thanks to Ramsey and Tre'Davious White ($17 million per year), but couldn't reach an agreement.
Under-the-radar possibility: Shaquill Griffin, Seattle Seahawks. As Seattle's first Pro Bowl corner since Richard Sherman, Griffin is one of the top corners on next year's free-agent market. Some coaches consider him a top-10 corner. Though he'd do well in the open market, Seattle will likely make efforts to re-sign him, either during the season or close to free agency.
Safety
Current highest-paid player: Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals | $14.75 million per year; four years, $59 million, $33.1 million guaranteed
Next in line: Jamal Adams, Seattle Seahawks. When finalizing the blockbuster trade with the New York Jets that sent Adams to Seattle, the Seahawks liked the flexibility of not having to extend Adams, a 2022 free agent, right away. But they'd be delaying the inevitable. He's the most versatile safety in the NFL. And waiting to sign a star player acquired via trade is costly (see: Tunsil, Laremy; Ramsey, Jalen). In fact, it wouldn't be a surprise to see traction on this over the next two months.
Under-the-radar possibility: Malik Hooker, Indianapolis Colts. Indy declined Hooker's fifth-year option partly because of durability (14 games missed since 2017), but he's a playmaker with seven interceptions in 33 starts. The Colts want to reward their best, most reliable players. So if Hooker fits that description in 2020, it wouldn't shock to see Indy make efforts to re-sign him.