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We talk often about which NFL players are paid the most within their respective position group, but we don't mention regularly where they started from to get there. Does it matter? Our look into the draft statuses for where the top paid players at each positon group came from. Keep up with the conversation @spotrac.

Quarterbacks
  Player Team Current AAV Draft Round Draft Pick
1 SEA $35,000,000 3 75
2 PIT $34,000,000 1 11
3 GB $33,500,000 1 24
4 LAR $33,500,000 1 1
5 MIN $33,000,000 4 102
6 PHI $32,000,000 1 2
7 DAL $31,409,000 4 135
8 ATL $30,000,000 1 3
9 TEN $29,500,000 1 8
10 SF $27,500,000 2 62
11 DET $27,000,000 1 1
12 LVR $25,000,000 2 36
13 TB $25,000,000 6 199
14 NO $25,000,000 2 32
15 IND $25,000,000 1 4
16 WAS $23,500,000 1 1
17 CAR $21,000,000 1 32
18 NO $16,300,000 - -
19 IND $15,000,000 3 91
20 LVR $8,800,000 1 2
21 ARI $8,789,661 1 1
22 CLE $8,170,745 1 1
23 CHI $8,000,000 3 88
24 MIA $7,568,860 1 5
25 NYJ $7,561,929 1 3
Running Backs
  Player Team Current AAV Draft Round Draft Pick
1 CAR $16,015,875 1 8
2 DAL $15,000,000 1 4
3 NYJ $13,125,000 2 48
4 HOU $13,000,000 3 86
5 TEN $10,278,000 2 45
6 ARI $8,483,000 3 73
7 DEN $8,000,000 1 15
8 NYG $7,798,688 1 2
9 JAC $6,787,711 1 4
10 LAC $6,125,000 - -
11 ATL $5,500,000 1 10
12 HOU $5,203,333 3 77
13 BAL $5,000,000 1 28
14 MIA $4,875,000 5 150
15 CIN $4,850,000 2 37
16 SF $4,250,000 3 73
17 NE $4,000,000 4 130
18 NO $3,600,000 6 181
19 LVR $3,500,000 - -
20 MIA $3,259,000 - -
21 CLE $3,259,000 3 86
22 NE $3,250,000 6 190
23 CAR $3,000,000 4 126
24 LVR $2,983,350 1 24
25 SF $2,900,000 - -
Wide Receivers
  Player Team Current AAV Draft Round Draft Pick
1 ATL $22,000,000 1 6
2 DAL $20,000,000 1 4
3 NO $19,250,000 2 47
4 KC $18,000,000 5 165
5 CLE $18,000,000 1 12
6 CIN $17,865,000 1 4
7 TB $16,500,000 1 7
8 ARI $16,200,000 1 27
9 HOU $16,200,000 1 20
10 MIN $16,050,000 - -
11 CLE $15,100,000 2 63
12 GB $14,500,000 2 53
13 BUF $14,400,000 5 146
14 CHI $14,000,000 2 61
15 IND $13,000,000 3 92
16 PHI $13,000,000 2 45
17 NO $12,000,000 3 82
18 ARI $11,500,000 1 3
19 LAC $11,250,000 3 76
20 LVR $11,075,000 - -
21 CIN $10,750,000 2 55
22 SEA $10,250,000 3 69
23 NYG $10,250,000 2 40
24 CAR $10,000,000 - -
25 NYJ $9,500,000 4 105
Tight Ends
  Player Team Current AAV Draft Round Draft Pick
1 LAC $10,607,000 2 35
2 CLE $10,500,000 3 81
3 KC $9,368,400 3 63
4 TB $9,000,000 2 42
5 MIN $9,000,000 2 43
6 PHI $8,500,000 2 35
7 CHI $8,000,000 3 95
8 NO $7,500,000 3 89
9 LVR $7,450,000 6 204
10 LAR $7,250,000 4 110
11 IND $7,100,000 - -
12 SEA $7,000,000 1 31
13 TB $6,800,000 - -
14 PIT $6,550,000 2 55
15 BUF $6,250,000 3 85
16 CIN $6,100,000 5 157
17 PIT $6,000,000 1 10
18 BAL $6,000,000 5 171
19 DET $5,650,000 5 160
20 DAL $5,500,000 - -
21 DET $4,955,306 1 8
22 JAC $4,750,000 1 21
23 LVR $4,000,000 3 69
24 DEN $4,000,000 3 92
25 NYJ $3,600,000 6 201
Left Tackles
  Player Team Current AAV Draft Round Draft Pick
1 HOU $22,000,000 1 13
2 IND $16,500,000 1 22
3 TEN $16,000,000 1 11
4 NYG $15,500,000 1 17
5 ARI $14,583,333 1 24
6 ATL $14,500,000 1 6
7 TB $13,750,000 2 34
8 SF $13,600,000 1 4
9 CAR $13,250,000 1 6
10 NO $13,000,000 3 75
11 DAL $12,200,000 1 9
12 GB $12,000,000 4 109
13 KC $12,000,000 1 1
14 MIN $11,750,000 1 23
15 SEA $11,500,000 1 26
16 LAR $10,000,026 2 55
17 LAC $10,000,000 1 23
18 CHI $9,250,000 7 246
19 NYJ $9,100,000 - -
20 CLE $7,300,000 - -
21 PIT $6,000,000 - -
22 BAL $5,121,083 1 6
23 BUF $5,000,000 - -
24 CIN $4,407,542 1 11
25 MIA $3,410,086 1 18
Right Tackles
  Player Team Current AAV Draft Round Draft Pick
1 PHI $18,000,000 1 4
2 LVR $16,500,000 7 244
3 CLE $14,000,000 1 8
4 DEN $12,750,000 1 19
5 DAL $10,000,000 - -
6 DET $9,000,000 5 164
7 KC $8,151,667 2 37
8 LAR $8,125,000 2 57
9 CHI $7,700,000 4 112
10 WAS $7,700,000 3 66
11 NE $6,482,000 5 138
12 TEN $5,750,000 5 153
13 GB $5,500,000 5 168
14 CIN $5,383,333 7 226
15 MIA $5,000,000 - -
16 SF $4,585,430 1 9
17 SEA $4,500,000 5 158
18 NYG $3,500,000 4 140
19 NYJ $3,500,000 - -
20 PIT $3,259,000 - -
21 HOU $3,056,388 1 23
22 ATL $2,566,436 1 31
23 SEA $2,300,000 1 21
24 TB $2,300,000 5 155
25 CLE $2,250,000 - -
Guards
  Player Team Current AAV Draft Round Draft Pick
1 WAS $15,030,000 1 5
2 NE $14,781,000 3 78
3 PHI $14,087,500 3 76
4 DAL $14,000,000 1 16
5 JAC $13,300,000 - -
6 NO $11,500,000 1 13
7 LAC $11,250,000 3 92
8 LVR $11,000,000 3 81
9 DEN $11,000,000 3 95
10 TEN $11,000,000 2 33
11 TB $10,825,000 2 61
12 NYG $10,666,667 1 27
13 PIT $10,000,000 1 24
14 MIA $10,000,000 1 9
15 NE $9,000,000 4 131
16 ARI $8,955,000 1 19
17 CLE $8,527,463 2 35
18 KC $8,472,600 6 200
19 NYJ $7,250,000 3 72
20 HOU $7,000,000 6 193
21 GB $7,000,000 3 67
22 LVR $6,350,000 3 81
23 ATL $6,250,000 3 72
24 NYJ $6,200,000 4 130
25 IND $5,972,227 1 6
Centers
  Player Team Current AAV Draft Round Draft Pick
1 LVR $11,250,000 2 55
2 BUF $11,125,000 2 49
3 HOU $11,000,000 2 50
4 PIT $11,000,000 1 18
5 CLE $10,850,000 4 122
6 TB $10,500,000 6 203
7 JAC $10,340,600 3 93
8 CHI $10,250,000 2 56
9 CAR $9,676,667 6 207
10 SF $9,500,000 2 43
11 NYJ $9,000,000 5 144
12 LAC $9,000,000 1 15
13 ATL $9,000,000 1 21
14 GB $8,500,000 5 161
15 PHI $8,166,667 6 191
16 CIN $6,800,000 - -
17 TEN $6,750,000 4 99
18 NO $5,750,000 - -
19 SEA $4,000,000 - -
20 MIN $3,220,718 1 18
21 NE $3,000,000 - -
22 HOU $3,000,000 - -
23 MIA $3,000,000 6 221
24 DET $2,945,035 1 20
25 CIN $2,928,123 1 21
Defensive Tackles
  Player Team Current AAV Draft Round Draft Pick
1 LAR $22,500,000 1 13
2 IND $21,000,000 1 7
3 PHI $17,100,000 1 12
4 ATL $17,000,000 5 137
5 CIN $16,300,000 4 120
6 KC $16,126,000 2 37
7 CIN $13,250,000 5 166
8 PHI $13,000,000 3 89
9 CLE $12,333,333 1 13
10 CHI $12,000,000 3 89
11 SEA $11,500,000 2 49
12 CHI $10,510,000 2 39
13 BAL $10,500,000 3 94
14 ARI $10,000,000 2 52
15 PHI $10,000,000 5 137
16 PIT $9,866,667 1 31
17 MIN $9,000,000 - -
18 NO $8,666,667 4 120
19 LAC $8,500,000 2 46
20 LAR $8,500,000 2 46
21 TB $8,000,000 1 2
22 BUF $7,500,000 1 30
23 WAS $7,250,000 5 152
24 SF $7,038,592 1 3
25 TEN $7,000,000 4 112
Edge Defenders
  Player Team Current AAV Draft Round Draft Pick
1 CHI $23,500,000 1 5
2 DAL $21,000,000 2 34
3 KC $20,800,000 2 63
4 DEN $19,016,667 1 2
5 DET $18,000,000 4 101
6 JAC $17,788,000 3 69
7 NO $17,500,000 1 24
8 SF $17,100,000 1 23
9 SF $17,000,000 1 17
10 CLE $17,000,000 3 72
11 BAL $16,808,000 5 146
12 HOU $16,667,571 1 11
13 ARI $16,500,000 1 21
14 GB $16,500,000 4 122
15 NYG $16,126,000 1 6
16 CAR $16,100,000 2 44
17 LAC $16,000,000 1 18
18 PIT $15,828,000 1 22
19 TB $15,828,000 - -
20 DEN $15,100,000 3 77
21 ATL $15,000,000 1 3
22 MIN $14,400,000 3 88
23 CHI $14,000,000 1 14
24 CIN $13,550,000 2 54
25 HOU $13,500,000 1 26
Linebackers
  Player Name Team Abbr Cont. AAV Draft Round Draft Pick
1 SEA $18,000,000 2 47
2 NYJ $17,000,000 1 17
3 JAC $14,250,000 2 36
4 ATL $14,250,000 2 52
5 CAR $13,608,250 1 25
6 LVR $11,750,000 - -
7 DAL $11,403,500 2 34
8 JAC $10,750,000 4 99
9 NYG $10,250,000 4 131
10 TB $10,050,000 2 58
11 HOU $10,000,000 2 43
12 MIN $10,000,000 2 45
13 LAR $10,000,000 1 9
14 KC $9,000,000 4 119
15 ARI $8,500,000 3 84
16 NYJ $7,500,000 5 151
17 TB $7,328,954 1 5
18 CHI $7,250,000 6 188
19 GB $6,500,000 3 71
20 PIT $6,200,000 6 206
21 ARI $6,000,000 4 115
22 LAC $6,000,000 2 48
23 DEN $5,000,000 - -
24 PIT $4,717,941 1 10
25 CHI $4,619,292 1 8
Cornerbacks
  Player Team Current AAV Draft Round Draft Pick
1 PHI $16,683,333 2 36
2 MIA $16,500,000 1 27
3 MIA $15,050,000 2 38
4 NYG $14,500,000 2 62
5 ARI $14,010,000 1 5
6 CIN $14,000,000 1 11
7 BAL $14,000,000 1 18
8 CHI $13,500,000 1 14
9 DEN $13,500,000 - -
10 NE $13,000,000 1 10
11 TEN $12,250,000 - -
12 PIT $11,200,000 1 7
13 LAC $11,083,333 2 62
14 HOU $10,500,000 1 31
15 WAS $10,000,000 3 84
16 DET $10,000,000 1 22
17 SF $9,050,000 5 154
18 DET $9,000,000 - -
19 BAL $8,600,000 4 104
20 PIT $8,500,000 3 98
21 LAC $8,500,000 - -
22 NO $8,375,000 2 39
23 IND $8,325,000 - -
24 ARI $7,500,000 2 60
25 CLE $7,291,339 1 4
Safeties
  Player Team Current AAV Draft Round Draft Pick
1 CHI $14,600,000 4 112
2 TEN $14,100,000 3 64
3 WAS $14,000,000 2 33
4 KC $14,000,000 3 69
5 BAL $13,750,000 1 14
6 NE $11,500,000 1 27
7 DEN $11,441,000 3 98
8 MIN $11,441,000 - -
9 DEN $11,000,000 1 20
10 LVR $10,500,000 2 41
11 MIN $10,250,000 1 29
12 BUF $9,750,000 7 218
13 SF $9,500,000 1 30
14 GB $9,000,000 5 142
15 NO $8,000,000 1 14
16 MIA $6,750,000 5 145
17 SF $6,500,000 2 46
18 ATL $6,500,000 5 147
19 SEA $6,200,000 6 200
20 BUF $6,100,000 5 159
21 CIN $6,000,000 2 61
22 HOU $6,000,000 4 106
23 CAR $6,000,000 4 128
24 TEN $6,000,000 1 15
25 NYJ $5,564,685 1 6
Special Teamers
  Player Team Current AAV Draft Round Draft Pick
1 BAL $5,000,000 - -
2 SF $4,750,000 - -
3 HOU $4,412,500 - -
4 GB $4,300,000 6 193
5 CAR $4,250,000 - -
6 PIT $4,201,500 - -
7 KC $4,055,000 7 233
8 NO $4,050,000 - -
9 BUF $4,000,000 - -
10 NO $3,962,500 5 164
11 JAC $3,875,000 - -
12 SEA $3,862,500 - -
13 PHI $3,861,620 5 153
14 DET $3,800,000 - -
15 LAR $3,762,943 - -
16 DEN $3,751,333 - -
17 WAS $3,412,500 - -
18 MIN $3,333,333 - -
19 NYG $3,259,000 - -
20 ARI $3,259,000 7 224
21 TEN $3,162,500 - -
22 MIN $3,000,000 - -
23 NYG $2,900,000 7 228
24 IND $2,900,000 - -
25 HOU $2,750,000 3 70

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