A visual look at how each NFL team is allocating their finances defensively. The following dataset includes the combined average salaries of all players either on the active roster or a reserve list for their respective team. The data has been categorized into Edge Defenders, Interior Defensive Linemen, Linebackers, Cornerbacks, & Safeties.

Total Defense

Average: $132M

If we’re talking “percent of cap” here, NFL teams are allocating 47% of their contracts to the offensive side of the ball this season. The Texans ($179M) and Steelers ($173) carry top allocations, while the Rams ($53M) bring up the rear by nearly $15M. Closest to the pin in terms of league average? KC ($132M).

Edge Defenders

Average: $35M

No surprise here, but Green Bay’s ($79M) recent acquisition/extension for Micah Parsons vaulted them to the top of this list (by nearly $11M). They surpassed San Francisco, who recently held the belt with Nick Bosa and friends on the books. 9 teams are allocating less than $20M to their edge rush, with the Rams ($8.8M) comfortably bringing up the rear.

Interior Defensive Linemen

Average: $31M

Back-to-back strong offseasons have lifted the ceiling on this position greatly. In fact, teams are spending nearly as much on average here as they are on the edge. The Panthers, Broncos, Patriots, and Lions all have $50M+ pumped into the middle of their D-Line, while 8 teams are at the $40M+ mark. The Packers, fresh off a move that traded Edge for Interior, now carry a league-low $7.5M at this position group.

Linebackers

Average: $19M

A position group that continues to slide down the ranks in terms of overall value and growth now has more than half of the league spending less than $20M total for the upcoming season. The Bears ($33M) and Commanders ($31M) hold healthy leagues in terms of LB spending, while three teams - the Chargers ($9M), Panthers ($6M) and Rams ($4M) are going in a different direction.

Cornerbacks

Average: $28M

5 massive extensions gave this position a much-needed ceiling lift this summer, heading toward a season where 6 teams are allocating at least $40M to their CB room. The Jets ($59M), Cowboys ($52M), and Texans ($51M) lead the list, with LV ($9.6M), CIN ($9.5M), and NO ($9.2M) bringing up the rear.

Safeties

Average: $18M

Newly minted extensions for Kyle Hamilton, & Kerby Joseph reset the market in almost every fashion, but this is still the lowest paid defensive group on average (just barely below linebackers). Hamilton’s big deal vaulted Baltimore to the top allocation ($34M), while 6 teams enter 2025 with less than $10M assigned to their safeties. The Chiefs carry a league low $3.8M at the time of this piece.

  EDGE IDL LB CB S TOTAL DEF
AVG $34,498,899 $31,724,481 $19,104,699 $28,348,397 $18,884,382 $132,560,857
HOU $64,313,466 $19,869,582 $19,943,987 $51,038,996 $24,583,200 $179,749,231
PIT $60,415,963 $32,669,159 $27,149,980 $39,484,058 $14,000,000 $173,719,160
JAX $44,327,322 $33,359,650 $19,851,469 $45,730,625 $19,091,002 $162,360,068
CHI $43,605,574 $24,999,004 $33,805,363 $41,958,985 $13,907,218 $158,276,144
DEN $20,141,716 $56,193,430 $21,714,515 $32,002,234 $25,135,722 $155,187,617
BUF $48,333,315 $37,093,109 $20,409,619 $40,035,472 $8,175,333 $154,046,848
NYG $54,686,055 $33,069,047 $16,246,655 $28,885,949 $20,195,636 $153,083,342
NE $24,440,873 $54,057,287 $25,778,260 $26,957,987 $21,562,944 $152,797,351
DAL $15,408,620 $49,757,786 $14,151,883 $52,775,875 $18,907,500 $151,001,664
MIN $48,728,383 $36,974,174 $13,103,100 $29,942,553 $20,230,000 $148,978,210
DET $15,814,760 $51,368,504 $23,982,481 $30,074,615 $27,235,006 $148,475,366
ARI $42,425,093 $38,230,221 $20,172,434 $12,904,535 $33,091,711 $146,823,994
CLE $48,502,461 $27,481,005 $23,775,934 $28,693,175 $16,741,667 $145,194,242
NYJ $10,538,358 $35,774,167 $24,840,298 $59,166,981 $13,037,535 $143,357,339
GB $79,160,478 $7,480,214 $12,029,646 $20,855,176 $22,830,822 $142,356,336
SF $68,320,416 $11,578,267 $27,559,203 $28,887,906 $5,689,280 $142,035,072
BAL $13,719,882 $33,919,061 $24,822,935 $32,340,759 $34,521,981 $139,324,618
CAR $19,896,942 $56,663,289 $5,883,292 $34,542,673 $20,421,779 $137,407,975
WAS $15,285,297 $41,194,498 $31,209,893 $32,175,644 $16,494,333 $136,359,665
IND $24,154,799 $39,491,912 $16,176,527 $34,166,226 $21,412,375 $135,401,839
KC $42,468,523 $36,762,593 $27,829,639 $22,052,750 $3,853,962 $132,967,467
ATL $23,022,396 $20,495,910 $20,254,129 $32,868,382 $21,090,252 $117,731,069
TB $24,251,800 $28,354,931 $13,305,998 $20,913,420 $28,216,181 $115,042,330
MIA $21,907,390 $31,062,405 $18,887,051 $18,453,163 $23,956,755 $114,266,764
SEA $31,251,124 $38,172,341 $12,701,473 $13,093,110 $16,929,766 $112,147,814
TEN $18,628,959 $37,003,110 $11,108,496 $25,800,247 $18,123,748 $110,664,560
NO $31,100,000 $24,723,184 $19,378,160 $9,239,761 $20,919,650 $105,360,755
CIN $45,653,732 $22,409,194 $15,843,650 $9,534,428 $9,097,221 $102,538,225
LV $54,967,828 $10,002,415 $11,702,062 $9,596,278 $15,815,244 $102,083,827
LAC $28,955,487 $13,464,457 $9,256,190 $16,062,831 $33,405,737 $101,144,702
PHI $10,731,361 $14,249,365 $24,263,036 $11,272,590 $7,831,246 $68,347,598
LAR $8,806,383 $17,260,129 $4,213,000 $15,641,310 $7,795,415 $53,716,237