Aaron Donald has been the gold standard among defensive tackles for quite some time, and since 2022, he’s held the title of the highest-paid player at his position. After the Rams’ Super Bowl run, he signed a three-year deal worth $95 million, which averages out to $31.67 million per year.
No defensive tackle eclipsed that salary in the last two years, but that will change with Chris Jones’ new deal in Kansas City. While details of Jones’ deal are still being finalized, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that he will surpass Donald in annual salary.
It won’t be by much, however. Schefter says Jones will come in above Donald but below Nick Bosa, who averages $34 million per year. No defensive tackle has come close to Donald’s current contract, with Justin Madubuike’s new deal being the closest at $24.5 million.
Before Chris Jones’ deal is finalized, here are the highest- paid defensive players in NFL history based on average annual salary.
🏈Nick Bosa: $34M
🏈Aaron Donald: $31.6M
🏈TJ Watt: $28M
🏈Joey Bosa: $27MJones will come in above Donald but below Bosa. https://t.co/OQuHzRa3fe
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2024
Jones is deserving of every penny he gets, undoubtedly performing as one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL for several years. When discussing the position, it’s typically between Donald and Jones as the best in the league.
