Given the recent contracts that have made Justin Jefferson and Christian McCaffrey the highest-paid players in their positions, a striking statistic has emerged regarding top-paid NFL players. Jason Fitz from the Zero Blitz Podcast, along with ESPN Stats and Info, conducted a study examining the past ten NFL seasons prior to last season. They found that the highest-paid player in each position (excluding special teams) never won a Super Bowl, except for one instance involving Rob Gronkowski and the New England Patriots. So, what does this really mean, and how could it affect the NFL going forward?
Staggering Statistic Regarding Paying NFL Players The Most Money At Their Respective Position
You Can’t Pay A Player Top Dollar
Winning a Super Bowl becomes challenging if a player on the roster is the highest-paid at his position. At least, this is what the statistic is pointing out. While this may be a case where correlation is not causation, it is still worth noting. The sample size covers only the past decade, but this trend could extend further. For instance, the Chiefs won the Super Bowl last season with Chris Jones as the highest-paid defensive tackle, but they had Patrick Mahomes as their quarterback. Similarly, Rob Gronkowski was the only player who was the highest-paid at his position to win a Super Bowl in the past ten years, and Tom Brady was his quarterback. Not to mention, Andy Reid (Chiefs) and Bill Belichick (Patriots) were the head coaches, and arguably, they are two of the greatest coaches of all time.
One NFL General Manager Might Have Taken Notice
The Dallas Cowboys and General Manager Jerry Jones have a huge dilemma next season. They need to re-sign three key players: Micah Parsons, Ceedee Lamb, and Dak Prescott. The Cowboys, who are in playoff contention, currently do not have the highest-paid player at any position. However, they could be in jeopardy of winning a Super Bowl if they commit too much money to one of those players. Because of this, Jerry Jones and the Cowboys front office might have realized that paying a player top dollar while competing for a championship could put the team in a difficult position.
Outlook On The NFL Statistic Regarding Paying A Player Premium Money
Generally, the common takeaway from this statistic is that “winning a Super Bowl is hard.” That’s what most people think at first glance. However, there’s more to it. Brady dominated the 2010s, appearing in five Super Bowls and winning three. Similarly, Mahomes and the Chiefs are making a significant impact in the 2020s, with four appearances and three wins in five years.
So, is paying a player the highest amount of money at their position directly correlated to having a disadvantage when trying to win a Super Bowl, or is it that there are living legends playing quarterback and simply outplaying the rest of the competition? Either way, there are a multitude of reasons why it is impossible to reach a definitive conclusion. However, it’s becoming increasingly evident that there are more factors to consider when building a roster.
Read More: Unveiling The Future Of NFL Drafting
Main Image: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
